KYW Newsradio Team Coverage
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Mayor Nutter says his administration is trying to nail down exactly why the suspect who murdered a police officer Tuesday afternoon was still on the streets despite outstanding warrants for his arrest.
Daniel Giddings, who apparently gunned down Officer Patrick McDonald (right) in broad daylight, had recently been released from state prison and was quickly involved in a scuffle with police last month. A warrant was issued for his arrest for that incident, and officials say there was at least one other outstanding warrant.
KYW's Mike Dunn reports that Mayor Nutter is having top aides look at these details:
"As far as I'm concerned (he) should not have been out on the streets of Philadelphia in the first place. We're conducting our own investigation and evaluation of his entire police record, all of his engagements with the criminal justice system, to try to determine why he was even out on the streets."
Nutter believes the problem is systemic, with 68,000 outstanding warrants in the city, many for potentially violent individuals.
The mayor, speaking Wednesday morning during KYW Newsradio's "Ask the Mayor" segment, said that Philadelphia residents should take a moment to thank an officer for his or her service. You can hear his entire comments at right.
KYW's Michelle Durham, Tony Hanson, and Paul Kurtz report that two Philadelphia police officers were shot early Tuesday afternoon in North Philadelphia during a shootout with a suspect. Patrick McDonald, an eight-year veteran of the force, died a short time later at Temple Hospital. The suspect was killed at the scene (top photo).
According to investigators, shots were fired about 1:45pm in the 2200 block of North Colorado Street, near 17th and Susquehanna, during a foot pursuit.
Officials say the suspect, identified as Daniel Giddings, 27, was killed at the scene. The two officers -- both highway patrolmen -- were transported to Temple University Hospital.
Police commissioner Charles Ramsey said witnesses told authorities that the suspect stood over the officer and shot him:
"It was clearly an assassination, is what it was."
Officer McDonald died about 2:10pm after being listed in extremely critical condition with a gunshot wound of the chest. The other officer, Richard Bowes, was shot in the hip; his condition was listed as stable and his wounds were not believed to be life-threatening.
McDonald, 30, (top right) was an eight-year veteran of the force and a graduate of Archbishop Ryan High School. Bowes, 35, (middle right) is a 12-year veteran of the force.
KYW Newsradio has learned that Daniel Giddings, the suspect in the shootings, was a wanted man. Sources say Giddings was wanted on two open warrants: the first for violating parole after serving a six- to twelve-year sentence for robbery, aggravated assault, and a gun offense stemming from a 1998 crime; the second for assaulting police after he was stopped in a stolen car.
In that case -- just weeks ago -- he allegedly fled, but then assaulted police who were 
chasing him. It has been described as a very violent confrontation from which Giddings (right) escaped.
He was still on the run when Officer McDonald stopped him. Police say Giddings emptied his .45 caliber weapon, killing McDonald and wounding Bowes before Bowes shot and killed the suspect.
Officials say McDonald, the son of a retired Philadelphia Fire Department captain, is single with no children; Bowes has three children.
A memorial service was held for the fallen officer Tuesday night at Christ the King Church in Northeast Philadelphia, just blocks from where McDonald lived.
An angry Mayor Nutter (right) made a short statement at the hospital after Officer McDonald's death was announced:
"We are deeply saddened, we are hurt, we are in pain, and we are very angry about what's going on in our city. We will 
not stand for it, and we will protect our officers every step along the way."
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He said that he and the police department will aggressively pursue those who think that engaging in a shootout with police is a viable option.
KYW's Mike Dunn reports that city officials decided late Tuesday afternoon to go ahead with the evening's free concert by the Philadelphia Orchestra at City Hall despite the death of Officer McDonald.
Melanie Johnson, a top aide to the mayor, says that after consulting with the police commissioner, the FOP, and the orchestra, the decision was made to proceed.
The concert, she says, was to be a tribute not just to the slain and wounded officers, but to other officers as well.
And as KYW's Hadas Kuznits reports, Philadelphia mayor Michael Nutter told those who gathered at Dilworth Plaza for the show that it was important for the orchestra to go through with their first-ever community concert at City Hall:
"Because it's important for all of us to gather together as citizens and as people who care about others. To be together, to think about what has happened, to celebrate this great life and to console each other at this time in our city."
Philadelphia Orchestra president James Undercofler says the tragedy prompted the orchestra to turn their show into a tribute:
"Thus we have amended our program with the performance of Barber's Adagio for Strings in the place of the Candide Overture. The Barber is traditionally performed as a tribute in times of great sadness. Music is a force that brings us together and gives us strength." ► LISTEN TO PERFORMANCE
Concertgoers seemed to agree:
"They played a very somber first song, which was very respectful to Officer McDonald and his family. I think it's very appropriate that it went forward because music is a calmer and a healer and a soother."
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