Suspect surrenders after shooting six police officers in hours-long Philadelphia standoff

A suspect surrendered just after midnight after shooting six police officers in a north Philadelphia neighborhood Wednesday evening, igniting a standoff that dragged on for hours in what authorities called a hostage situation.

The suspect is Maurice Hill, a 36-year-old Philadelphia resident with a history of gun convictions, his former lawyer, Shaka Johnson, told The Washington Post. Philadelphia Police Sgt. Eric Gripp said on Twitter early Thursday that the suspect is in custody.

Johnson said he did not know Hill’s motive. He said Hill would likely face several charges from the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office, including attempted murder and aggravated assault.

Philadelphia Police Commissioner Richard Ross said he was surprised that the suspect surrendered, telling reporters at a news conference Thursday morning that the gunman “was indicating to some that he was not going to do that.” Ross said that the tear gas shot into the home ultimately resulted in the suspect ending the standoff.

“This was a very dynamic situation, one that I hope we never see again,” he said, adding that he was thankful no civilians or police officers were seriously injured.

The suspect walked out of the house with his arms raised in the air as local TV crews filmed the scene. Police could be heard saying, “Hands up! Hands up! Get down! Get down!”

The gunman was not cooperating with police as of early Thursday, Ross told reporters. He said Johnson, the suspect’s former lawyer, came to the house toward the end of the standoff and talked with the gunman.

“Using him was unorthodox,” Ross said of the lawyer’s involvement in ending the standoff. “But again, it was a very unusual circumstance.”