Walter Wallace Jr., a 27-year-old black man, was fatally shot by a police officer in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on October 26, 2020. He was allegedly armed with a knife. Demonstrations were held in Philadelphia on October 26 and 27 which resulted in deployment of the Pennsylvania National Guard as well as arrests of protesters and injuries to police. During the clashes a pickup truck drove into the crowd running over a female police officer and breaking her leg.

The shooting took place around 4 p.m., as police responded to a report of a man armed with a knife. The police were called to the scene by Wallace's family asking for their help. The police had previously been to the same house two times previously that day. Video on social media showed Wallace walking into the street as people yell and two police officers aim their guns at him. At one point, Wallace, who is several feet away from the officers in the video, walks toward them as they quickly move backward. The camera pointed down toward the ground as a dozen shots are heard.^[1] Wallace's mother tried desperately to stop him moments before the officers opened fire and killed him.^[2]

Investigators said the officers involved were wearing police body cameras which would be part of the investigation. Chief Inspector Frank Vanore said each officer fired about seven rounds, but would still need to determine how many shots struck Wallace.^[2]

The Wallace family's attorney, Shaka Johnson, said the family had called for an ambulance to get Wallace help with a mental health crisis, not for police intervention. His parents said officers knew their son was in a mental health crisis because they had been to the family's house three times on October 26. Police officials said they could not confirm what information had been given to the responding officers, whether they were told about a possible mental illness or how many calls they had received for help at Wallace's address on October 26.^[3]

Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney said the shooting, which was partially captured on video by a bystander, raised "difficult questions that must be answered," and the police commissioner said there would be an investigation.^[1] Wallace's father, Walter Wallace Sr, said his son had mental health issues and was on medication and asked why the police did not use a Taser instead.^[4]

On October 27, the state and city authorities requested help from the Pennsylvania National Guard, which then mobilized several hundred members of the armed forces.^[5]

On October 26, protesters marched through West Philadelphia, and video posted on social media appeared to show the police clashing with demonstrators. According to the Philadelphia Police Department, thirty police officers were injured, in most cases by bricks and rocks that were thrown by protesters. Five police vehicles and one fire department vehicle were vandalized.^[1] A 56-year-old female police officer received a broken leg after being hit by a pickup truck.^[6][7] The violence and unrest then spread to other parts of West Philadelphia and other adjacent city neighborhoods. Police arrested at least 91 people overnight, charging most with looting.^[2]

• 2020 United States racial unrest