Philadelphia Daily News
PHILADELPHIA — Back in September 2007, rookie cop Richard Decoatsworth took a shotgun blast in the face during a traffic stop in West Philadelphia and, despite his wound, chased a suspect two blocks before keeling over.
For his valor, he was invited to President Obama’s economic address before Congress in February and sat in a box with Michelle Obama and Jill Biden.
Yesterday, Decoatsworth, 23, now with the Highway Patrol, was involved in another risky confrontation when a man charged him and tried to take his service weapon.
The pistol discharged in the struggle and the attacker might have been hit. Later, the man, whose family said was schizophrenic, was shot and killed when he tried to take another officer’s gun.
The man was identified as Anthony Temple, 27, who grew up in the Logan neighborhood where he died.
The drama began shortly before 1:30 p.m. on Warnock Street near Lindley, in Logan, when Decoatsworth, on routine patrol, stopped to ask a crowd at the corner to disperse.
“Then this male just charges at the officer,” said Lt. Frank Vanore, a police spokesman.
“During the attack there is a struggle for the officer’s gun and during the struggle the gun discharges one time. We believe that discharge hit the suspect.”
Decoatsworth radioed for assistance, and Temple ran south on Warnock Street, where he encountered an officer from the police neighborhood-services unit.
“Then the male attacks that officer,” Vanore said. “He had a pretty good handle on his gun.”
Another officer fired twice at Temple, Vanore said. It was unclear how many times he was struck, but Temple, who police said was not armed, was pronounced dead at the scene.
“These officers had a split-second decision to make in how to deal with this wild, out-of-control male who suddenly had them in a fight for their life,” Vanore said.
Temple’s sister Kisha Grier said that she was shocked that her brother had been shot by the police.
“He didn’t have a mean streak in him at all,” Grier said.
Grier said that her brother, who grew up in Logan, had been diagnosed with schizophrenia years ago and was being treated with medication.
“If you would speak to him, he would speak back to you but with a big ol’ smile on his face,” Grier said.
The officers involved will be placed on administrative duties pending an investigation.
Copyright 2009 Philadelphia Daily News