Nicholas Glenn, the suspect identified by police who went on a shooting rampage on Friday night, has past charges filed against him.
Credit: Carson KahoeNicholas Glenn, the 25-year-old man who terrorized West Philadelphia on Friday, had a checkered past and expressed hatred of police and his probation officer, according to court records and documents revealed by Philadelphia Police over the weekend.
Around 11:19 p.m. on Friday, Glenn fired 18 rounds into Philadelphia Police Sergeant Sylvia Young’s police cruiser around 52nd and Sansom streets with a Ruger Model SR9, 9MM, semi-automatic pistol, according to police officials. He injured Young — who sustained wounds to the left shoulder, arm and torso, NBC10 reported — and a Penn Police officer, Ed Miller, who was shot in the hip and leg. As of Sunday evening, NBC10 reported that Miller was sent home from Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, but Young remained hospitalized and in stable condition.
Police found a note in Glenn’s possession, labeled “Doomed People,” that indicated his hatred of probation and parole officers, as well as the police, officials said.
Glenn also shot four bystanders, including a 25-year-old woman who died from her injuries. He was later killed during a firefight with other Philadelphia Police responders and was pronounced dead at 11:45 p.m., the release said. Police added that the firearm was discharged at least 51 times throughout the course of the attack.
Prior to his rampage, Glenn had been arrested on a variety of other charges from 2009 to 2013.
On Nov. 19, 2009, he was charged with rape, robbery and aggravated indecent assault, though the results were later withdrawn in December 2011 for some unknown reason, according to court records.
In a description of the incident, The Philadelphia Inquirer said a 24-year-old woman was allegedly forced into an apartment building and raped by six men while picking up takeout food on 56th and Walnut streets.
On April 15, 2011, Glenn was found guilty on a possession of marijuana charge, court records show. Other drug charges would reappear several times throughout the next three years.
In response to this shooting, Penn President Amy Gutmann said in an email to students, “In these challenging and difficult times for our country, there is no place that is immune to such senseless outbursts of violence,” adding that, “We are extremely fortunate to have great men and women like Officer Miller on patrol at Penn.”
It also gained the attention of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, and his running mate Indiana Gov. Mike Pence. Both tweeted at the Philadelphia Police and Penn Police, sending thoughts and prayers.
Similar to previous platforms, such as that of Richard Nixon’s declaration of the War on Drugs, Donald Trump has centered much of his campaign on what he calls “The war on police.” Citing Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton as having been complicit in anti-police uprisings, Trump claims that he is the “law and order candidate.” In his Milwaukee appearance, Trump pointed toward the model of former Mayor of New York City Rudy Giuliani, who was known to be tough on crime.
The largest police union in the nation, the Fraternal Order of Police, recently endorsed Trump, citing his “commitment to America’s law enforcement.” The FOP has also come out against Hillary Clinton; it claims Clinton refused to fill out a questionnaire to win the group’s endorsement.
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