The Northeast Philadelphia father who was in the back of Officer Ryan Pownall’s vehicle on June 8th, doesn’t mention that day anymore to his kids, two of whom were with him in the police cruiser that evening as they traveled to the Special Victims Unit (the children were so traumatized by the early June incident, that their school excused them from the remainder of the month before summer break).
Their travel was interrupted when Officer Pownall, who was ordered to transport the civilians to 300 E Hunting Park Ave after the youngest among them was abducted, decided to pursue Mr. David Jones, a thirty-year-old truck driver who at the time was riding an illegal dirt bike and who had ridden onto the sidewalk.
According to Terrance F., the adult passenger turned eyewitness, Officer Pownall said “look at this motherfucker.” Soon after Officer Pownall approached Mr. Jones, and almost immediately after a struggle, the thirty-year-old was dead. Mr. Jones was armed, though not at the time of his death. The gun fell during the struggle but, according to footage unseen by the public, the officer – who searched frantically for the firearm after shooting Mr. Jones in his back and buttocks while he ran – appeared to believe Mr. Jones was still armed.
On Thursday morning, Mr. Richard Ross, the Philadelphia Police Commissioner, announced that Mr. Pownall, who was subjected to a protest at his home on August 24th, will be suspended for thirty days with intent to dismiss. The announcement, which surprised some and elated others, follows a comment on the shooting made Wednesday afternoon by Philadelphia City Council President Darrell Clarke.
Mr. Clarke said that after reviewing Mr. Pownall’s history – which included a 2010 shooting that left a black man paralyzed due to the bullet in his back – he contends that the officer doesn’t have the “appropriate judgment” to serve on the force. On June 19th, in a private meeting, Mr. Ross also questioned the judgement of his officer.
“I don’t know why he… personally… didn’t let the motorcycle go… some of that’s a judgment call,” the police commissioner told me.
On Thursday, Mr. Ross reiterated the aforementioned, but also pointed a finger of blame at the victim.
“Sadly, two parallel lanes of poor judgment crossed on that evening. Officer Pownall used poor judgment when he chose to make a vehicle stop for a motor vehicle violation with civilians in his car. He also used poor judgement by not availing himself of cover and concealing after Jones broke away from him during the struggle. Instead, he elected to take aim, and fire two shots at Jones while he was running away; all of this occurred during rush hour. And, Jones also used poor judgment as well. He carried a gun illegally. Rode a motorcycle that’s illegal to operate on the city street and refused to comply with Pownall’s orders.”
According to the eyewitness – who claimed on Wednesday to not having been interviewed by the Office of the Pennsylvania Attorney General, which is now conducting the criminal investigation – Officer Pownall neither issued any orders to Mr. Jones nor explained the reasoning for the stop. The witness, who said Mr. Pownall approached Mr. Jones and said “I’m taking your shit,” confirms the struggle.
Once Mr. Jones broke free of Pownall’s grip, he ran. And he was shot at a distance of 10 to 35 feet from Mr. Pownall.
“In order to fire at a fleeing suspect, there must be an imminent threat of death or serious physical injury to the officer or another person. Because Jones never looked back at Pownall and his hands were empty, he posed no imminent or immediate threat to Pownall,” said Mr. Ross.
The police commissioner, who said Pownall should have reassessed the situation once Mr. Jones broke free, later added that there were “some serious issues with departmental violations” that occurred on June 8th.
Activists with the Justice for David Jones Coalition were outside of the headquarters of the Philadelphia Police Department. It was a celebratory atmosphere. And yet, despite the good news, they had a grievance. The coalition is demanding, still, that Mr. Pownall be arrested and charged with murder. They vowed to visit home again.
Ms. Doretha Crosby, Mr. Jones’ mother, said the news of the firing only heals the pain a bit. Having Mr. Pownall charged with murder is her desire. But even then, she said, the wound will never close.
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Photo courtesy of the author.