Death by Cop 2021-2025
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Eddie Jose Irizarry
Age : 27
Gender : Male
Race : Latino/a/e
Date : 08/14/2023
Location : East Willard Street near East Clearfield Street
City : Philadelphia
County : Philadelphia
State : Pennsylvania
Agency : Philadelphia Police Department
Officer(s) :Mark Dial; Michael Morris
Cause of Death : Gunshot
Event : Killed by police after car chase
OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :
On 08/14/2023, shortly before noon, Philadelphia Police Officers Mark Dial and Michael Morris observed 27-year-old Eddie Irizarry driving erratically in the Kensington neighborhood. Officers followed Irizarry after he drove the wrong way on East Willard Street and stopped behind his Toyota Corolla after it came to a stop.
Philadelphia police initially told the public that Irizarry had exited his vehicle and advanced toward officers with a knife. Within days, Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw publicly acknowledged that the original account was inaccurate after body-camera footage showed Irizarry remained seated inside his vehicle when Officer Mark Dial rushed to the driver's side window and fired six shots through the closed window within seconds of exiting the patrol vehicle. The video contradicted the department's original public narrative.
Investigators determined that Irizarry was holding a folding knife inside the vehicle. Officer Dial later stated that he believed the knife was a firearm and that he feared for his life. Officer Michael Morris did not fire his weapon. Dial fired six rounds, striking Irizarry multiple times. Officers removed Irizarry from the vehicle and transported him to Temple University Hospital, where he died from his injuries.
Philadelphia Police released body-camera footage after intense public criticism. The recordings became central evidence in the criminal case because they contradicted the department's initial statements describing the shooting. Commissioner Outlaw stated that police should not have released inaccurate information before reviewing the video evidence.
On 09/08/2023, the Philadelphia District Attorney charged Officer Mark Dial with murder, voluntary manslaughter, aggravated assault, reckless endangerment, possession of an instrument of crime, simple assault, and official oppression. Dial surrendered and was suspended with the intent to dismiss from the Philadelphia Police Department.
On 09/26/2023, Philadelphia Municipal Court Judge Wendy Pew dismissed all criminal charges at the preliminary hearing. The District Attorney immediately appealed. On 10/25/2023, Philadelphia Common Pleas Judge Lillian Ransom reinstated every charge, including murder, allowing the prosecution to proceed.
Following additional pretrial proceedings, prosecutors withdrew the first-degree murder charge before trial. In May 2025, a jury acquitted Dial of third-degree murder but convicted him of voluntary manslaughter, possession of an instrument of crime, and reckless endangerment. On 07/17/2025, Judge Glenn Bronson sentenced Dial to 9½ months to two years in prison. Because Dial had already served approximately ten months while the case was pending, the court granted him immediate parole. The sentence drew criticism from Eddie Irizarry's family, District Attorney Larry Krasner, and community organizations.
Mark Dial joined the Philadelphia Police Department in approximately 2018 and had about five years of service when he killed Eddie Irizarry. A search of publicly available records located no verified prior fatal police shootings before this incident. Following the shooting, Philadelphia Police suspended Dial with the intent to terminate his employment. He refused to provide an internal statement during the department's administrative investigation. Dial became one of the few American police officers convicted of voluntary manslaughter for an on-duty shooting. He served approximately ten months in custody before receiving immediate parole following sentencing. No earlier sustained misconduct findings, prior excessive-force lawsuits, or previous officer-involved shootings were verified in publicly available records.Irizarry's family filed a federal civil-rights and wrongful-death lawsuit against Dial, Morris, the City of Philadelphia, and other defendants. Public records reviewed through August 2026 do not indicate that the civil litigation has resulted in a publicly reported settlement or judgment.
SOURCE LINKS :
https://6abc.com/mark-dial-eddie-irizarry-philadelphia-police-shooting/13969407/
https://6abc.com/officer-involved-shooting-person-shot-philadelphia-police-shoots-suspect/13647894/
https://6abc.com/philadelphia-officer-who-shot-eddie-irizarry-charged-with-murder-da/13754302/
