Kevlar Vest/Helmet Saved SWAT Officers

PHILADELPHIA - A man who allegedly shot one Philadelphia police officer earlier this month, two SWAT officers this morning and then kept cops at bay for hours has apparently shot himself accidentally, police say.

Fortunately, neither of the SWAT officers struck during Wednesday's early-morning raid were injured because bullet-resistant gear stopped the bullets.  Sergeant Christopher Binns, a 49 year-old officer with 21 years on the force and Officer Francis Whelan, a 36 year-old with 13 years on the force were both shot, both hit, and unharmed, thanks to the equipment, purchased with homeland Security money.  In fact, both men wanted to return to duty immediately following the shootings.

SWAT held an arrest warrant for 20-year-old Nasuil "Nas" Martinez, who was wanted in connection with the Dec. 9 shooting of another officer.

He's now listed in serious condition.

Wednesday's incident began at 3:30 a.m., when a call came in to 911 and was passed along to SWAT, which responded to the home on Sanger Street.

Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey said that when officers went into the home, they were first met by a woman but then saw a male run downstairs.

"An individual, a male, went down in the basement," Ramsey explained. "One of the officers went down after the suspect, lost sight of him. The suspect fired through a drywall and struck the one officer. The second officer went downstairs in support of his partner, and at that time, too, he was fired upon and was struck by gunfire. Fortunately, they were both wearing Kevlar, so neither bullet penetrated."

One of the officers was hit in a helmet (Binns), while the other was struck in a protective chest plate(Whelan). Neither was injured, and they were able to return fire.

Police said they weren't sure if Martinez was wounded in the original shooting, although he said he was. He remained holed-up in the Sanger Street home, not far from the Roosevelt Boulevard, for hours.

Police said the man fired at least once more from the basement after that. Negotiators were later communicating with him on the phone.

"We'll just have to wait this out and let it unfold," Ramsey said at the time.

Homes on either side of where the rowhome were evacuated, and any other neighbors within what police described as "a bullet's distance" were urged to stay inside.

Numerous streets were shut down in the area. Summerdale Avenue was closed between Scattergood and Cheltenham avenues, Sanger Street was closed between Frontenac and Langdon streets, and Langdon was closed between Brill Street and Cheltenham, too.

Buses were having difficulty picking up children for school, so district officials announced they were closing Samuel Fels High School. 

Then, around 7:30 a.m., Ramsey says the suspect was getting instructions from police on how to proceed with surrendering when a gunshot went off.

"We immediately made entry, found him lying with a gunshot wound to the neck. That ambulance that just went by, the suspect is in that ambulance now going to the hospital. I do not know the extent of his injuries -- pretty serious from the looks of it," Ramsey said.

Ramsey added that homicide investigators got a look at the man and believe he is their suspect, but they were still working to confirm that as the ambulance sped by the police commissioner and reporters.

According to Ramsey, the man on the phone with negotiators said, "Oh, it went off," after the gunshot rang out.

"It looks as if it was accidental when it was self-inflicted," Ramsey said.

The suspect was later listed in critical condition.

The woman who was inside the home has been taken into custody for questioning.

Ramsey said the SWAT officers struck by bullets Wednesday stayed at the scene and took up positions around the Sanger Street home but were ordered to go to a hospital to be checked out.

The Dec. 9 shooting for which Martinez was originally wanted resulted from a routine car stop.

A 25th District officer was grazed in the shoulder that night as he tried to follow Martinez over a fence and was fired upon. The officer was treated and released from a hospital the next morning. Three other occupants of the car were taken into custody for questioning.

Police had been looking for Martinez ever since, and a reward was offered for information leading to his arrest and conviction.

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Late this afternoon, police held a news conference where they showcased the kevlar vest and helmet that sustained high-powered bullet hits.    Deputy Commissioner Richard Ross explains why these officers were so lucky this morning, "Obviosuly it is nothing short of miraculous that two officers are here with us today and we are very thankful for that.  When you think about the gravity of the situation, and that they both sustained gunshot wounds with very powerful weapons..." 

Police also said they believe that the gun used in this mornings shooting was the same gun used on December 9th, when Officer Gorman was shot. 

The suspect in this case can expect to face