The Latest on the arrest of a Philadelphia cop, the fatal shooting of his partner and the investigation into a double murder (all times local): 1:15 p.m.
The Philadelphia Police Department is investigating the shooting death of a man it says was fatally shot by an officer.
The suspect, 28-year-old Zachary Cavanaugh, was killed by an off-duty Philadelphia Police Officer during a domestic disturbance in Philadelphia’s North End on Monday.
Police say Cavanaugh was shot by Officer Michael Tappat outside a home on the 2500 block of North Ninth Street, and that he died at a local hospital.
Tappat is on paid administrative leave pending an investigation into the officer-involved shooting.
Philadelphia Police Chief Charles Ramsey says the shooting was an “execution-style” shooting.
The chief says the suspect had a knife and had a gun.
Ramsey says police have found a second knife in Cavanaugh’s possession.
The police chief says Tappan is the only suspect in the shooting, which took place at about 10:20 a.m., about one hour after the shooting.
Police also released a composite sketch of the suspect that shows the man with a knife, a dark colored shirt, dark pants and a hat.
Police released a photo of the man and the suspect’s family as well as the man’s girlfriend.
Police said Cavanaugh died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
He was charged with attempted murder, assault and aggravated assault on a police officer, police said.
A lawyer for Cavanaugh said Tuesday that the officer who shot him was cleared of wrongdoing.
“I think this was an execution-style shooting,” said the lawyer, David Williams.
Williams says Cavanaugh had mental health issues and was “out of control.”
Williams says the officer was cleared on a mental health issue.
We just want answers.
We want to know why the police officer shot this man.
“It’s not going to be easy for us,” said Williams.
CBS affiliate WPVI-TV reported that the officers who shot the man, Officer Johnathan Lewis, had been with the department for more than three years.
