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PHILADELPHIA (CBS 3) ― The city is mourning the loss of an officer fatally shot during a foot pursuit in North Philadelphia Tuesday afternoon. The gunman, who wounded a second officer, was killed by police.

Police said 30-year-old Officer Patrick McDonald was on a solo patrol when he pulled over a vehicle for a traffic violation on the 2200 block of N. 17th Street at 11:47 a.m.

A female driver and 27-year-old Daniel Giddings were inside of the vehicle, Captain James Clark said. When asked for his name, Clark said Giddings provided McDonald with a false identity. The suspect fled on foot when the officer asked him to exit the vehicle.

Officer McDonald, an eight-year veteran of the force, called for backup and began pursuit of the suspect, catching up to him on the 2200 block of Colorado Street. During a physical altercation, Clark said Giddings pulled out a .45 caliber handgun and shot Officer McDonald several times.

While the officer was on the ground, Giddings stood over him and fired several more rounds, police said.

"This was clearly an assassination," Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey said.

Officer McDonald was rushed to Temple University Hospital in a police cruiser and was pronounced dead at 2:08 p.m.

Giddings took a bike found on the street and fled the scene, but was quickly confronted by three responding highway patrol officers. Police said Giddings threw the bike at one officer and then exchanged gunfire with 35-year-old Officer Richard Bowes.

Bowes was struck in the left hip, but was able to fire six shots, fatally wounding Giddings.

Officer Bowes, a 12-year veteran of the force who is married with three children, was transported to Temple University Hospital were he is listed in stable condition. He is expected to recover.

Giddings apparently had an extensive criminal history and was wanted for attacking five officers just two days after he was released from prison. (Read more…)

Just after midnight Tuesday, police recovered a Buick LaSabre involved in the initial traffic stop and are currently questioning Giddings' female companion, 27-year-old Shermell Howard of West Philadelphia.

McDonald is the fourth Philadelphia Police officer killed in the line of duty within the past year.

"Officer McDonald joins Officer Gary Skerski, Officer Charles Cassidy, Sergeant Stephen Liczbinski and Officer Isabel Nazario as one of our guardians who gave their lives in the service of this city during recent years," Mayor Michael Nutter said.

Fellow officers lined up and saluted as the body of Officer McDonald was escorted to the John F. Givnish Funeral Home in Northeast Philadelphia late Tuesday night.

Viewing - Funeral Arrangements:

Officer McDonald's viewing for family and friends will be held September 29 from 3 to 6 p.m. at Givnish Funeral Home in Northeast Philadelphia. A public viewing will immediately follow at 6 p.m.

On September 30, there will be a viewing from 7:30 a.m. to Noon at the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul. A funeral mass will begin at Noon with burial immediately following at Resurrection Cemetery in Bensalem.



Philadelphia's Fallen Heroes

* Officer Chuck Cassidy was shot on October 31, 2007. He died on November 1, 2007. He was 54. (Read more ... )

* Sgt. Stephen Liczbinski was shot and killed on Saturday, May 3, 2008. He was 39. (Read more ... )

*Officer Isabel Nazario was killed in a car accident on Friday, September 5, 2008. She was 40. (Read more ... )

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