Gunman shoots 2 women, Philly transit cop before killing himself

A gunman in Philadelphia shot dead two women and a transit cop before being found dead of an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound, police said.

The suspect barricaded himself in an apartment in the city’s Frankford neighborhood after two women were shot dead around 7 p.m. Wednesday, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported.

Responding officers then spotted a man running into a building, where he began shooting at police officers from a window. Several officers returned fire and one SEPTA officer was injured in the chest in the violent exchange, police said.

The 28-year-old transit cop, a three-year veteran, later underwent surgery at a hospital and is expected to make a full recovery, WPVI reported.

The officer, who was providing cover for a city police officer who was pinned down during the shooting, connected with his colleagues via FaceTime after the operation – even giving a thumbs up, according to the broadcaster.

“It doesn’t matter what patch they wear and what badge is on their chest,” said Thomas Nestel, police chief of SEPTA Transit. “Cops do their thing when their brothers and sisters are in danger.”

The two wounded women, aged 42 and 57, were shot in the hip and taken to a hospital in stable condition, WPVI reported.

A witness told police he was standing at a bus stop when a man started shooting about a block away.

“Here we are again … another night in our city,” Philadelphia Police spokesman Sgt. Eric Gripp told the Inquirer. “This totally and utterly unacceptable and reckless gun violence alone has claimed the lives of nearly three innocent people and we are so thankful it wasn’t worse.”

The gunman, who was not immediately identified, was later found dead in an apartment building from a self-inflicted shot to the head after emptying a 15-round Glock, police told WPVI.