Philly police officer shot in hand, bullet ricocheted off bullet proof vest

A veteran Philadelphia narcotics unit police officer was shot in his bullet proof vest and grazed in the hand by the ricocheted bullet early Wednesday morning while serving a search warrant in North Philadelphia.

"Earlier today a Philadelphia police officer was shot in the line of duty as he was serving a search warrant with the narcotics unit in North Philadelphia," Mayor Cherelle Parker said at a news conference outside Jefferson University Hospital.

Enhanced bullet proof vest may have saved officer's life

The shooting took place just after 6 a.m. along Kings Place -- that's near the intersection of North 12th and Master streets as the narcotics unit served several warrants across the city, Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel said.

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A shot was fired after a 10-person police team breached the first door of the home and started to enter the second door, Bethel said.

The bullet struck the right side of the officer's ballistic vest and ricocheted into his hand, Bethel said.

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The officer -- a 33-year veteran of the force -- was rushed to Jefferson Hospital for treatment, Philadelphia police said. He was treated and released.

"He is going to be fine," a "grateful" Bethel said, while noting the officer's "sacrifice" to serve his community.

Parker thanked the medical staff for caring for the unnamed officer and noted that it could have been worse.

Bethel said that the narcotics unit -- a team he was part of for 15 years -- several months ago got enhanced vests to wear over normal bullet proof vests.

Bethel said there was "a high probability" that the vest helped save the officer's life.

What was it like on the scene?

Police vehicles could be seen blocking roads in the area before daybreak. SWAT officers could be seen at the scene and a flash bang could be heard.

A barricade situation was declared moments after the shooting.

Officers did not return fire and retreated from the home before the person inside surrendered, Bethel said.

A man and a woman could be seen being led away from the scene in handcuffs. The man was being detained, Bethel later said, but no charges were initially announced.

Police then slowly began to leave the scene.

The shooting investigation continued Wednesday morning.

Bethel said that there were several marked police vehicles outside the home when officers entered the home.

A neighbor said she heard police announce "open up, it's the police" and then heard a "pow."

The 2nd police officer shot in less than a week

This was the second time in less than a week that a Philadelphia police officer was shot in the line of duty. An officer was shot in the legs during an incident inside a North Philadelphia corner store Friday night. Video released by officials on Tuesday showed the shooting that left Alexander Spencer dead.

Parker -- in office for less than a month -- noted that she has now twice stood outside a hospital emergency room as mayor and spoke after an officer was shot.

"Our police officers are on the front lines of our city everyday and every night putting their lives on the line to protect and serve us," Parker said. "This is another reminder of the senseless -- and all too present -- gun violence here in the City of Philadelphia."