Off-duty Philadelphia Police Narcotics Officer Robert Porter was shot near 38th and Powelton streets at approximately 11:30 p.m. Friday night after leaving Scooter's Lounge, a sports bar at 38th and Lancaster streets. According to Philadelphia Police detective Michael Reynolds, Porter was in the company of another off-duty officer, Kyle Bay. Bay rushed Porter to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, where Porter was pronounced dead shortly before midnight. The shooting occurred only a few blocks from popular student hangouts such as FUBAR and Chili's Grill and Bar. Porter's murder marks the second West Philadelphia shooting in the last week. Two intruders shot a 16-year-old student last Tuesday at West Philadelphia High School, located at 47th and Walnut streets. The murder also marks the third shooting of a Philadelphia police officer this month. Philadelphia Police Officer Lauretha Vaird was fatally shot while trying to break up a bank robbery at a PNC Bank in the city's Feltonville section January 2. Another officer was shot in North Philadelphia earlier this month. In the most recent shooting over the weekend, Porter and Bay had just left Scooter's Lounge when three males they had encountered earlier in the bar followed the two officers outside, Reynolds said. The males pulled alongside the vehicle occupied by the officers and fired several shots, striking Porter in the back and chest. Philadelphia Police Sergeant William Torpey stopped the suspect vehicle at 28th and Thompson streets at approximately 12:30 a.m. Saturday. Two men were still in the vehicle, while the third man had bailed out of the car at 30th and Girard streets, Reynolds said. Two of the three suspects, Brian Young, a 19-year-old black male, and Dwayne Brown, a 22-year-old black male, have been arrested. They were charged with murder, attempted murder, aggravated assault, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person, violation of the uniform firearms act, possessing the instrument of a crime and conspiracy, according to Reynolds. Young and Brown are currently being held for questioning. An investigation is continuing into the whereabouts of the third male, Reynolds said. Director of Victim Support and Special Services Maureen Rush emphasized that the shooting was an unusual circumstance. "I don't think this is your normal crime situation," Rush said. "This type of situation is really very rare." And although shootings are relatively uncommon, Rush said students should always exercise caution when traveling in the neighborhood. "Police officers always have a heightened sense of awareness," Rush said. "I'm sure police officers in any department hear about this and empathy rises." Rush also said this situation is very unusual. "As a former Philadelphia Police officer, I don't think I've ever heard of anything like this happen to the Philadelphia Police before." "I don't think I'll stay out too late anymore, especially alone," said Wharton sophomore Richa Gupta. "I'm pretty shocked." But College junior Shira Sokal said "I don't go places alone -- I'm always aware, but I don't think it will change the way I act." Emma Sfida, mother of the owner of Scooter's Lounge, said "[Porter] knew all of the people in here. He used to come in here a lot. "He was a nice fellow," Sfida said. "He didn't deserve what happened to him."
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