ISIS Sympathizer Who Shot Philly Cop Charged With Attempted Murder

Now local police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are working to determine if Archer’s attack was part of a larger group targeting officers. Ross said that Archer, who has a criminal record, “was certainly targeting the police”.

Police in Philadelphia are investigating a tip that a man charged in the ambush shooting of a patrolman is connected to a radical group that may continue to pose a threat to officers.

An FBI spokesperson also told The Washington Post that the agency is looking into trips Archer had taken to Saudi Arabia in 2011 and to Egypt in 2012.

Authorities say Archer, 30, of Yeadon, fired at least 13 shots toward the officer as he patrolled his usual west Philadelphia beat shortly before midnight Thursday. Prior to entering the hospital for detail, police said the 18th District officer was approached by a 40-year-old black male who stated, “I’m hungry”. She said she thought his actions might have been the result of a mental illness. After giving chase, the man was arrested and taken to jail, where he confessed to shooting the officer “in the name of Islam”. Responding officers captured the suspect and recovered a gun that had been reported stolen from a police officer in 2013.

“He walks up to the auto and starts firing shots”.

Philadelphia Police Officer Jesse Hartnett.

“Shots fired! … I’m bleeding heavily!”.

Abu Rahman noted that people can say and do anything they want in the name of Islam, but shooting and killing is not justified in the Quran, the central religious text of Islam.

“There was blood everywhere on the street”, the officer said. He always wanted to be a police officer, his father said. Archer was later apprehended by the police.

Clark said Archer repeatedly professed his allegiance to the Islamic State in his confession.

“He was trying to assassinate this police officer”, Ross told reporters. She contended that an imam there had “lied” when he said Archer was not associated with the mosque.

“He’s been acting kind of odd lately”. “He’s been talking to himself…He’s been hearing voices in his head”. A man and a woman who were praying inside yesterday afternoon said Masjid Al Jamia does not teach or condone radical Islamic activity. She said he believed he had been targeted by police. “I’m still hoping they have the wrong child”.

A relative said Holliday had left the home with police. Other officers assisted in pursuing and arresting Archer. He was on probation at the time of the shooting. The incident happened around 10:42 p.m. Saturday at 51 N. Powelton Avenue.

He was arraigned Saturday and held without bail, court documents show. After his sentencing, Archer was immediately paroled.

Police are looking into whether Archer had any contact with the extremist organization, also known as ISIS, or other terrorist cells.

Hartnett suffered a broken arm but was still able to pull out his service weapon and return fire at the shooter, who fled the scene.

Hartnett served in the Coast Guard and has been on the Philadelphia force for four years.

Elected officials, residents and activists spoke out against the alleged assault on Sunday, offering a reward for information leading to an arrest.

A GoFundme page created to collect funds for the family of wounded officer Jesse Hartnett has surpassed its goal of $15,000 just a day after being created.

Police have said it is unclear whether he was radicalized or had ties to militant groups.