Suspect in Pa. cop ambush said he acted ‘in the name of Islam,’ police confirm

The man caught in surveillance footage ambushing a Philadelphia officer in a squad car, shooting him multiple times, claimed he acted “in the name of Islam,” police said at a news conference Friday.

The suspect’s gun had been stolen from police in 2013, Commissioner Richard Ross said.

The man wore “Muslim garb,” a law enforcement source told Fox News. The source would not elaborate. Local media identified the suspect as 30-year-old Edward Archer.

Officer Jessie Hartnett was in stable condition at a hospital, police said. The suspect fired a total of 13 shots Thursday night, Ross said. Three bullets struck the officer in his left arm.

“We are working side-by-side with the Philadelphia Police Department. They remain the lead agency as we work together to gather information about the attack on their officer,” the FBI announced.

Hartnett returned fire, hitting his attacker at least three times, Ross added.

“This is absolutely one of the scariest things I’ve ever seen,” Ross said at a news conference a few hours later. “This guy tried to execute the police officer. The police officer had no idea he was coming.”

The suspect ran away, but was quickly apprehended by other officers. There was no immediate word on the suspect’s condition.

In a statement, Governor Tom Wolf said, “This alleged intentional act of violence against an officer seeking to help a fellow citizen is horrifying and has no place in Pennsylvania.”

Jim Kenney, who is in his first week as mayor of the nation’s fifth largest city, said, “There are just too many guns on the streets and I think our national government needs to do something about that.”

His statement comes on the heels of President Barack Obama announcement on Tuesday of his plan to tighten control and enforcement of firearms in the United States.

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