Police: Cop Shooter Pledged Allegiance to ISIS

Photo via ABCNews

[UPDATED 1:37 p.m] Officer Jesse Hartnett remains in critical but stable condition after an ambush Thursday night in which a man who media sources say was wearing Muslim garb allegedly fired a dozen shots at his patrol car at 60th and Spruce streets in West Philadelphia.

Police said the suspect in the shooting, who they identified at a news conference Friday as Edward Archer, pledged allegiance to ISIS in a confession. The photo above shows a man firing the shots into Hartnett’s marked patrol car.

According to court records, Archer was found guilty of fraud, forgery and other offenses in November in Delaware County. He was scheduled to be sentenced on those charges next week. He is also currently on probation after pleading guilty to gun charges and attempted simple assault in 2013.

Police sources contacted by CBS Philly say Archer has provided a “full confession” to the shooting and gave Islam as part of the motive. Hartnett was sitting in the car when the shooter opened fire.

Police Commissioner Richard Ross and Mayor Jim Kenney addressed the media in a news conference at 1 p.m. at police headquarters. We will update you with further details.

Victor Fiorillo contributed to this report.

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