Boy, 12 Years Old, Allegedly Shoots at Officers, Shot and Killed

A Philadelphia police officer shot and killed a 12-year-old boy who’d allegedly shot at him and three other cops. According to NBC News, four plainclothes cops assigned to the South Task Force were searching for a 17-year-old for questioning for illegal possession of a firearm.

The officers spotted the teen who was with the 12-year-old police later identified as Thomas Siderio. The officers drove toward the teens and chirped the siren. “At that point,” Police said, “they heard gunfire and glass shattering from the rear passenger window. One officer was struck by shards of glass while two others pursued the 12-year-old, who had shot at the car.”

CBS Local reported, “The boys then ran from the scene and Siderio was still holding a gun. Police say one of the plainclothes officers then drew his weapon and fired, striking Siderio’s back, killing him.”

Incidents like these are by nature chaotic. Further investigation should provide details about the precise sequence of events. However, some details are clear. It is not normal for anyone to shoot at police, especially a little kid.

Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw said, “Last night, a young child with a gun… purposely fired… at our officers and by miracle, none of the officers suffered life threatening injuries.”

Outlaw continued. “However, the life of a young man was cut tragically short, and we should all be questioning how we as a society have failed him….”

The mother of the 17-year-old said, “He [Siderio] had no chance in life and now, he’s gone….” Her son was the one police said they originally spotted carrying a gun. It’s conceivable the older boy could have handed the gun to Siderio before he allegedly fired at the officers. The two then ran from the police before the boy was shot.

Police later interviewed and released the 17-year-old. Reportedly, Siderio lives in a home with an absent father. In 2020, Siderio was reported missing for four days and was thought to be with a friend. Many adults in his life apparently failed him, which got him killed, and almost some police officers, too.

About
Latest Posts

Steve Pomper

Steve Pomper is an author, freelance writer, and retired Seattle police officer. During his career, he served as a field training officer, on the Community Police Team, and as a mountain bike patrol coordinator. He’s written five books, including The Obama Gang and De-Policing America, and he is a contributor to the National Police Association and a freelance writer for The Tatum Report.

Originally from New England, he’s a Boston sports fan. He now lives in the Pacific Northwest with his wife, Jody, a retired firefighter. He enjoys spending time with his adult kids and three grandchildren.