The city of Philadelphia is preparing for a night of potential unrest in response to the release of the bodycam footage from the Walter Wallace Jr. killing. The footage captured Wallace’s encounter as he was going through a mental health crisis and ended in officers shooting Wallace 10 times.
The release of the bodycam footage is the first time the department has done so. “While this is not a milestone to be celebrated, we truly believe that this is an important step in our commitment to transparency,” said Philadelphia police commissioner Danielle Outlaw. “The release of this footage has been very carefully considered, with the safety of the officers and the community in mind.”
This comes nine days after the 27-year-old black man was fatally shot by police, prompting another string of protests around the country. The shooting is currently being investigated by two separate bodies – one by the district attorney’s office and one by the force’s internal affairs unit.
