Police officer wounded during Philadelphia shooting; suspect also injured

PHILADELPHIA – A Philadelphia bicycle officer was shot and wounded Thursday night in west Philadelphia by a drug suspect who told him “I don’t want to have to do this,” before firing at him, police said.

Authorities said Officer Daniel Kostick and his partner approached a man inside a van around 10:15 p.m. after suspecting a possible narcotics violation. The man backed up and sped off, police said.

Deputy Commissioner Richard Ross said when Kostick caught up with the suspect a few blocks away, the man said to him: “I don’t want to have to do this,” and then began shooting. He said Kostick returned fire, striking the suspect.

Kostick, an 8-year department veteran, suffered a gunshot wound to his right arm. He was taken to Penn Presbyterian Hospital, where he is in stable condition. The suspect was admitted to Hahnemann University Hospital. His condition was not immediately known.

A weapon was recovered.

Ross said Kostick, who is married and has two children, is “OK. … He’s in good spirits.” He said the department “is thankful for that.”

In March, Officer Robert Wilson III was shot and killed during a video game store robbery.