PHILADELPHIA, PA – A blaze erupted at the Vietnamese Baptist Church in Philadelphia during Black Lives Matter rioting on Tuesday in ‘The City of Brotherly Love.’ The fire broke out during the second night of violence and looting in the city triggered by the shooting of an armed black man by police. Walter Wallace, Jr.
Black Lives Matter rioters allegedly burned down the church and threw fireworks at police during the violent protests. Pastor Philip Pham reacted:
“I have no idea why they attacked our church. They burned it from the roof. They threw flammable chemicals on the roof and (the fire) burned through the roof.”
Capital Vietnamese Christian Fellowship director Bao Pham issued a statement about the fire asking people to pray for the church and for Philadelphia:
Philadelphia police killed a knife-wielding Wallace during a domestic call in the city’s Cobbs Creek neighborhood. Police reported 81 people arrested between Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw said 23 officers were injured in the rioting. Nine police vehicles were damaged. Outlaw commented:
“We’ve heard reports of officers saying they’re throwing Molotov cocktails, they’re bringing bricks in backpacks. We’re not talking about little rocks, stones and pebbles. These are folks intentional on bringing certain things to hurt us.”
Wallace’s family stated that he had struggled with mental illness. They called for peace. Wallace’s father Walter Wallace, Sr. said:
“I ain’t got time to loot, burn up, and destroy where I live. It’s uncalled for, it really, really is and the people doing it ain’t helping my family. They are showing disrespect.”
Police said a double shooting that left two teens wounded in Port Richmond may have been connected to looting at Castor and Aramingo Avenues.
Multiple bank ATM machines were also destroyed with explosives overnight. The Philadelphia Bomb Squad respond to one explosion around 9:30 p.m. in Strawberry Mansion, a Ridge Street Restaurant. A group of men was seen fleeing from the location.
Four ATM machines were destroyed in North Philadelphia between 9:30 p.m. and 5 a.m. Wednesday. Another device was detonated inside Lee’s Kitchen around 1 a.m.
Authorities also responded to ATM explosions at a gas station on 2800 North Broad Street and a deli on the 3500 block of Germantown Avenue early Wednesday morning. Additional explosions occurred at a Wawa convenience store in Cresentville and a Sunoco gas station in East Falls.
Rioting in Philly tonight… pic.twitter.com/G25tg8u5Nq
— OFFGRID Survival (@offgridsurvival) October 27, 2020
Police located a van filled with explosives and other suspicious items in Logan Circle on Wednesday night. The van reportedly contained propane tanks, torches, and suspected sticks of dynamite. The Philadelphia Bomb Squad is investigating.
Tuesday night, Gov. Tom Wolf (D) authorized mobilizing the Pennsylvania National Guard to help protect property and assist the police. Mayor Jim Kenney (D) imposed a 9 p.m. curfew on the city. Kenney said:
“The looting that has taken place … is distressing to say the least, and it is unacceptable… (rioters are) doing a great disservice to the many others who want to exercise their First Amendment rights by protesting.”
Police Commissioner Outlaw said that authorities will allow Wallace’s family to view the evidence in the shooting, including body camera footage:
“I have every intention of being transparent and releasing footage. I think the footage can speak for itself.”
Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw says the city plans on releasing 911 audio as well as body camera footage from the shooting of Walter Wallace Jr. on Monday. She says Wallace’s family will have a chance to view the materials first.
MORE: https://t.co/7L9eFnmxkF pic.twitter.com/fsB51depmv
— FOX 29 (@FOX29philly) October 28, 2020
President Donald Trump responded to the shooting and violence in Philadelphia while speaking from Las Vegas on Wednesday. Trump said he knows the police in Philadelphia “very well,” and that they “should be able to handle” the violence:
“It shouldn’t be allowed. That’s no way to do it. You got to have law and order. You have to have respect for our police.”
President Donald TrumpThe White House Press Secretary released the following statement regarding the rioting and violence in the wake of the Wallace shooting:
“The riots in Philadelphia are the most recent consequence of the Liberal Democrats’ war against the police. Law enforcement is an incredibly dangerous occupation, and thousands of officers have given their lives in the line of duty.
“All lethal force incidents must be fully investigated. The facts must be followed wherever they lead to ensure fair and just results. In America, we resolve conflicts through the courts and the justice system.
“We can never allow mob rule. The Trump Administration stands proudly with law enforcement, and stands ready, upon request, to deploy any and all Federal resources to end these riots.”
Former Vice President Joe Biden responded:
“There is no excuse whatsoever for the looting and the violence. None whatsoever. I think to be able to protest is a totally legitimate, totally reasonable.”
Former VP Joe Biden
Media outlets have begun to discover a darker past for Wallace, who was being portrayed earlier as a family man with mental health problems. Court records show Wallace was awaiting trial for trying to shoot a woman.
In 2017, he plead guilty to attempting to shoot another woman and was sentenced to 11-23 months behind bars.
In 2013, he was pleaded guilty to resisting arrest and assault for punching a police officer.
Meet Walter Wallace Jr, The Career Criminal Whose Shooting by Police Triggered Riots in Philly. Rioting for another career criminal who was innocent of course 🤦🏽♀️. Please so many mugshots for his crimes they don’t all fit on one screen shot https://t.co/D2q632PozR
— Dani74 (@dfairygirl74) October 28, 2020
Commissioner Outlaw said that it was unclear what officers who responded to yesterday’s call knew about Wallace:
“There are several questions that need to be answered… including what the officers knew when they responded, what was put out by radio and how any previous contact with Mr. Wallace factored into yesterday.”
Police have responded to Wallace’s home multiple times, and three times on Monday before the shooting.
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