Eric Franks Shoots 3 Philadelphia Officers, Dies in Wynnefield Gunfight

3 articles · Updated · WPVI-TV · Jun 15

Three Philadelphia officers were wounded late Saturday after police say 57-year-old Eric Franks pulled a 9mm handgun and fired during an encounter at 54th and Arlington streets; officers returned fire, killing him.
Police said officers had responded around 10:30 p.m. to a report of a vehicle hit by gunfire and were explaining a crime-scene perimeter when Franks grew agitated, shoved a sergeant and resisted detention.
One officer was shot in the face, another in the hip and a third in the leg; all were hospitalized and listed in stable condition Sunday, while a fourth officer was unhurt.
Nearly 50 pieces of ballistic evidence were recovered, and investigators said witness accounts, surveillance video and body-camera footage show Franks confronting officers before the shooting.
Bethel said preliminary findings indicate Franks was not tied to the original shooting under investigation; family friends described the retired firefighter and Marine veteran as acting out of character.