Pennsylvania police officer survives being shot 7 times; suspect identified
FOLCROFT, Pa. -- The man who allegedly shot a Folcroft, Pennsylvania police officer seven times on Friday morning, and opened fire on a second officer, is under arrest.
The officer who was shot is identified as 25-year-old Officer Christopher Dorman. He is hospitalized in critical but stable condition.
The suspect is identified as Donte Brooks Island, aka Abdul Wahi. He is charged with two counts of attempted murder, two counts of aggravated assault and related offenses.
ABC7 sister station WPVI-TV was there Friday as Island was escorted to a patrol car to be taken to his arraignment. He is being held on $1 million bail.
Island had been recently released from prison after serving time for drug and firearms violations, District Attorney Jack Whelan said.
Clergy, citizens and police held hands in prayer Friday night outside the Collingdale Police Department.
The impromptu vigil a show of support for Officer Dorman.
The shooting happened behind an apartment complex in the 1500 block of Elmwood Street around 10 a.m. Friday. Authorities say Dorman was dispatched to the location for a report of a man possibly dealing drugs.
Dorman arrived on the scene and confronted Island, police say. There was a struggle and Island allegedly drew his weapon and shot Dorman seven times.
Exclusive WPVI-TV video shows the windows blown out, a bullet still lodged in the headrest of the passenger seat.
Dorman was hit once in the face, four times in the chest, once in the groin and once in the leg. He was flown by helicopter to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center in West Philadelphia. WPVI-TV obtained scanner audio of the police radio call, in which Dorman can be heard saying, "I'm shot in the face! I'm shot in the face! I'm shot! I'm shot! I'm shot!"
A second officer arrived on the scene, Whelan said, and Island allegedly shot at that officer. That officer was not hit. A third officer managed to get Dorman into his police vehicle and rush him to the hospital.
Dorman was wearing his bulletproof vest, which police say saved his life.
"I was told by the doctors that 'thank God he had his vest on,' so apparently there may have been several shots to his vest," Chief Robert Ruskowski said.
Tamika Dailey told WPVI-TV she heard the shooting.
"Just heard shots, pop, pop, pop, pop, pop," she said. "I said, 'Oh my God, somebody's shooting!' "
Residents of the Elmwood Avenue Apartments were evacuated as SWAT officers surrounded the building. A state police helicopter was brought in as an "eye in the sky," and it flew overhead as a loud flash bang was fired.
SWAT officers moved quickly, taking Island, who was hiding out in an apartment, and several women into custody. Police say a .40 caliber handgun, believed to be used in the ambush, was recovered.
As the officers stood down and departed, residents who had been watching applauded the police.
"We were applauding because they got somebody bad off the streets. If he's going to shoot at a cop, he's definitely going to shoot at innocent bystanders, and I live right there," Denise Haley said.
Dorman joined Folcroft's volunteer fire department when he was 16, and attained his dream of becoming a borough cop last June. In that time, the chief says Dorman has proven himself to be an exceptional officer.
Delaware County District Attorney Jack Whelan knows the rookie officer personally.
"Comes from a great family. I do personally know his mother and father. I actually worked with him. His father is a former councilman here in Folcroft Borough," Whelan said. "It's a shame both the officer and this family has to go through his."
"He's just a good guy. Nothing bothers him. Great sense of humor. Then something like this happens," Ruskowski said. "I'm just hoping for a full recovery so we can get him back."
Ruskowski said Dorman's mother and father are at the hospital, "obviously upset, but relieved that he's stable."
For the small community of Folcroft, Officer Dorman is the first to be shot in the line of duty.
"We want to ask you to keep this officer in your prayers as well as his family," said Whelan.
"To have an officer injured like this, never. I mean you know this is a wake up call for these small towns," said Ruskowski.
As it turns out, Dorman wasn't even supposed to be working Friday morning. He was filling in for someone else and was just days away from learning if he was going to be hired as a SEPTA police officer.
