Philadelphia police find van full of explosives amid unrest over officer-involved shooting of Walter Wallace Jr.
Jessica Schladebeck
Philadelphia police uncovered a van packed with explosives and other suspicious cargo following several nights of unrest over the death of Walter Wallace Jr., a Black man with a history of mental health problems, who was fatally shot during a confrontation with authorities earlier this week.
Officers recovered propane tanks, torches and what appeared to be dynamite sticks from the vehicle Wednesday night, WPVI reported. It’s not clear if a suspect has been taken into custody nor how the van became known to law enforcement.
The city remained on high alert late Thursday morning as authorities continued to investigate. A bomb squad also responded to the scene.
After two nights of protests and unrest, Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney during a virtual press conference on Wednesday declared a curfew from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. citywide. He also announced an undetermined number of National Guard soldiers would begin arriving in the city on Friday to assist officers over the weekend.
A person is handcuffed and detained by police at 55th and Pine Street, Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2020, in Philadelphia, after the citywide curfew had passed, two days after Walter Wallace Jr. was killed by police officers.
A person is handcuffed and detained by police at 55th and Pine Street, Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2020, in Philadelphia, after the citywide curfew had passed, two days after Walter Wallace Jr. was killed by police officers. (TOM GRALISH/)
Gov. Tom Wolf just hours before the curfew was scheduled begin, also signed an emergency proclamation in a bid to curb looting and violence.
“Hundreds have gathered peacefully to speak out against social injustices. But their voices are being drowned out by others taking advantage of this time to sow mayhem,” he said.
“I signed this proclamation so commonwealth resources can be provided quickly to protect lives and property.”
While scattered reports of looting were reported overnight, Philadelphia was otherwise without the violent confrontations and chaos it faced in the days after Wallace was killed by police.
Wallace, a 27-year-old aspiring rapper and father of nine, was shot Monday afternoon while officers responded to a report of a person with a weapon. Police said he was wielding a knife and ignored officers' orders before they opened fire.
Protesters face off with police during a demonstration on Oct. 27, 2020, in Philadelphia. Hundreds of demonstrators marched in West Philadelphia for a second night following the death of Walter Wallace Jr., a Black man who was killed by police in Philadelphia on Monday.
A demonstrator raises a fist near Philadelphia police on Oct. 27, 2020.
A police officer goes down attempting to tackle a demonstrator during protests on Oct. 27, 2020 in Philadelphia, the day after Walter Wallace Jr. was fatally shot by police.
A man is detained by Philadelphia police on Oct. 27, 2020.
A Philadelphia police officer is covered with an unidentified red substance during a confrontation with protesters on Oct. 27, 2020.
A fire burns during demonstrations in West Philadelphia on Oct. 27, 2020.
A neighbor gathers at a memorial outside Walter Wallace Jr.'s home in Philadelphia, Pa. on Oct. 27, 2020.
Family and friends shout "Black Lives Matter" outside Walter Wallace Jr.'s home in Philadelphia, Pa. on Oct. 27, 2020.
Family and friends gather outside Walter Wallace Jr.'s home in Philadelphia, Pa. on Oct. 27, 2020.
Police stand by as demonstrators march in West Philadelphia on Oct. 27, 2020.
Protesters march during a demonstration on Oct. 27, 2020, in Philadelphia.
Police officers move in formation during a protest in response to the police shooting of Walter Wallace Jr. on Oct. 26, 2020 in Philadelphia. Police officers fatally shot the 27-year-old Black man during a confrontation Monday afternoon in West Philadelphia that quickly raised tensions in the neighborhood.
A police car burns during a protest in response to the police shooting of Walter Wallace Jr. on Oct. 26, 2020, in Philadelphia.
Police activity occurs near the scene of the police shooting of Walter Wallace Jr. in Philadelphia on Oct. 26, 2020.
People stand near the scene of the police shooting of Walter Wallace Jr. in Philadelphia on Oct. 26, 2020.
Sharif Proctor lifts his hands up in front of the police line during a protest in response to the police shooting of Walter Wallace Jr. on Oct. 26, 2020, in Philadelphia.
Neighbors and family of Walter Wallace Jr. pray following his shooting by the police on Oct. 26, 2020, in Philadelphia.
Walter Wallace Sr., the father of Walter Wallace Jr. talks about the shooting of his son in Philadelphia, Pa. on Oct. 26. 2020.
Police officers, left, maintain a presence as people gather in protest in response to the police shooting of Walter Wallace Jr. on Oct. 26, 2020, in Philadelphia.
People gather in protest in response to the police shooting of Walter Wallace Jr. on Oct. 26, 2020, in Philadelphia.
People gather in protest in response to the police shooting of Walter Wallace Jr. on Oct. 26, 2020, in Philadelphia.
Fireworks explode in the sky during a protest in response to the police shooting of Walter Wallace Jr. during the early morning hours of Oct. 27, 2020, in Philadelphia.
Wallace’s parents have since said their son was in a mental health crisis and that officers should have been aware as they were called to the home three times on Monday.
The deadly incident sparked outrage in city residents, more than 1,000 of who gathered at Malcolm X Park for a demonstration on Tuesday. The protest eventually turned violent, with more than 23 officers injured by the end of the night, WPVI reported.
