Former Philadelphia Police Officer Faces Murder Charge in Eddie Irizarry Shooting
In a dramatic turn of events, Officer Mark Dial, a former Philadelphia police officer accused of fatally shooting 27-year-old Eddie Irizarry while he sat in his car in mid-August, has now turned himself in and is facing a murder charge. The development unfolded as Dial surrendered on a criminal warrant, as confirmed by his attorney, Fortunato Perri Jr.
Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner revealed the charges at a press conference where bodycam footage from the August 14th incident was shown to the public. In addition to the murder charge, Dial is now confronted with charges of voluntary manslaughter, aggravated assault, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person, and official oppression.
Krasner extended an invitation to Irizarry’s family and their attorneys to view the distressing video of the shooting. He emphasized the difficulty of watching such violent footage and expressed concern for the trauma it may cause to the family members.
“I also want you to know that the family repeatedly said to me and the family’s counsel repeatedly said to me they do not want any criminal unrest,” Krasner stated. “They do not want any rioting. They do not want any looting.”
The video shared by Krasner portrays Dial approaching a stopped vehicle, and a voice can be heard warning the driver, “I will f—— shoot you.” Following this, at least six shots were fired, and Dial proceeded to extract a bloodied Irizarry from the vehicle before rushing him to a hospital.
Authorities clarified that Dial shot Irizarry while he was in his car, initially claiming that the officers had made a traffic stop and shot someone outside the vehicle after a knife threat. However, this account was later debunked by the review of officers’ body-worn camera footage.
Dial, a five-year veteran of the Philadelphia Police Department, was subsequently suspended with the intent to dismiss due to his refusal to cooperate with the investigation into the incident.
Despite the unfolding events, Perri, Dial’s attorney, maintained, “the facts will unmistakably show that Officer Mark Dial was legally justified in discharging his weapon while fearing for his life.”
Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney expressed his condolences to Irizarry’s loved ones and affirmed that the District Attorney’s Office is committed to achieving justice for Mr. Irizarry and his family.
As the case unfolds, the investigation is ongoing, with the goal of achieving justice and closure for all those affected by the tragic death of Mr. Irizarry.