A former Philadelphia officer who fatally shot Eddie Irizarry as he sat in his car is facing murder and other charges, District Attorney Larry Krasner announced Friday after releasing body camera footage of the Aug. 14 encounter.
The former officer, Mark Dial, turned himself in Friday morning, Krasner said. It is not clear whether he has an attorney who can speak on his behalf.
Dial, a five-year veteran, was fired from the Philadelphia Police Department after security video released by an attorney for Irizarry’s family showed him repeatedly shooting at the man’s car.
Krasner, who released additional police body camera footage before announcing the charges, said the video was “extremely difficult to watch.”
“There’s always some level of trauma, especially for family members who have to deal with watching something that’s extremely violent,” he said, pausing to collect himself. “I hope that anyone who is considering watching these videos in public, I hope that every adult will think twice… and honestly, I hope that every adult will think twice about watching these videos because in some ways and traumatic for some people.”
Mayor Jim Kenney also called the images “graphic” and offered his condolences to the Irizarry family.
“I recognize that no action we as a city take can bring him back, but I am confident that the District Attorney’s Office is working toward justice for Mr. Irizarry and his family,” he said in a statement.
Irizarry, who moved from Puerto Rico at age 19 and spoke very little English, drove erratically and was stopped by police after driving the wrong way down a one-lane street, said Shaka Johnson, an attorney for the family. Irizarry, rather .
In body camera video released Friday, Dial’s partner is seen leaving the police vehicle with his firearm drawn. The sound in the video only starts after the recording has taken place.
Video from Dial’s body camera shows him approaching the car and yelling, “I’ll shoot you,” seconds before multiple gunshots are heard.
“Mark, stop,” the other officer says. “Move the car, Mark move the car.”
The officer, who has not yet been charged or identified, then opens the passenger side door while asking for help.
Krasner’s office said in a news release Friday that Irizarry had a small, open pocket knife against his thigh. He then rolled up the driver’s side window, the affidavit said.
Authorities had previously said two knives were seen in the car, one resembling a “kitchen knife” and the other a serrated folding knife. Johnson said Irizarry’s father gave him one of the knives because he worked as a mechanic.
Police had also previously said that Irizarry had gotten out of his car, but security video released before the bodycam footage also contradicted that.
Dial opened fire on the car six times, shattering the window and “repeatedly hitting Irizarry at close range,” Krasner said.
Irizarry was taken to Temple Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. A medical examiner determined he died of multiple gunshot wounds and that the death was a homicide, the district attorney said.
“The charges filed today against defendant Mark Dial are among the most serious in our criminal justice system and are the result of weeks of investigative work by the PPD Officer Involved Shooting Investigation team, PPD Internal Affairs, and the independent review of dedicated Public Corruption Prosecutors in the District Attorney’s Office,” Krasner said in a statement.
“As they do in all criminal cases, our Special Investigations Unit will continue to seek the truth about what happened on August 14 and what led to the murder of Mr. Irizarry, who was shot dead in his car with the windows open .” he continued.
In addition to murder, Dial was charged with aggravated assault, voluntary manslaughter, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person and official oppression.
The Philadelphia Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 5 said Dial has their full support.
“Like any other individual facing charges, Officer Dial is presumed innocent and looks forward to assisting his attorneys in preparing a vigorous defense against these serious criminal charges,” President John McNesby said in a statement .
Dial was initially placed on restrictive duty after the shooting. He was later suspended with the intention of being fired for allegedly refusing to cooperate with police investigations, Police Chief Danielle Outlaw said.
Johnson had called for Dial to be arrested and charged. He did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday.
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
