ISIS-inspired terrorist convicted of attempted murder in ambush of Philly police officer

Anders Hagstrom, DCNF 

An Islamic State-inspired terrorist was convicted of attempted murder Thursday for ambushing a Philadelphia police officer in a hail of gunfire in 2016.

This undated photo provided by the Philadelphia Police Department shows Edward Archer. (Philadelphia Police Department via AP)

Edward Archer, 32, began his trial two weeks ago by telling a judge he wouldn’t “plead to anyone but Allah,” according to Police One. A jury convicted him Thursday of the attempted murder and aggravated assault of Officer Jesse Hartnett, 36, in 2016, according to NBC Philadelphia.

Prosecutors played harrowing surveillance footage of the attack in their closing arguments, that showed Archer firing 13 rounds into Hartnett’s vehicle after “lying in wait” for the officer.

“I’m trying my absolute best to get back something that was taken away from me and it’s going to be quite a long road,” Hartnett said outside the courtroom. “I don’t think I’ll ever be 100 percent, but hopefully, someday, I’ll get close to that.”

Hartnett suffered severe nerve damage to his arm and has undergone 11 surgeries since the attack, even getting several metal plates implanted in his elbow. His recovery has been slow.

The surveillance footage showed Archer moved closer and closer to Hartnett’s vehicle, continuously firing, until his hand was nearly inside the police cruiser. He hit Hartnett three times in the left arm, breaking bones and causing severe nerve damage. Prosecutors also aired radio chatter from the night a wounded Hartnett yelled, “I’m shot! I’m bleeding heavily.”

In this frame from a Thursday, Jan. 7, 2016 video provided by the Philadelphia Police Department, Edward Archer runs with a gun toward a police car driven by Officer Jesse Hartnett in Philadelphia. (Philadelphia Police Department via AP)

Archer fled the scene with the wounded and bleeding Hartnett in pursuit, who still managed to return fire and hit Archer in the buttocks as he ran. Pictures shown in court revealed the bloodstained windows, doors, and seats of Hartnett’s cruiser, as well as the bloodstained sidewalk he used to follow the shooter.

Prosecutors also showed footage of Archer’s interrogation, where the terrorist repeatedly inquires after Hartnett’s condition, and admits the attack was for the cause of ISIS.

Hartnett and his wife and family were seen crying as the conviction was handed down. Archer’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for May.

Follow Anders on Twitter

Send Tips: anders@dailycallernewsfoundation.org

Freedom of Speech Isn’t Free

The Daily Caller News Foundation is working hard to balance out the biased American media. For as little as $3, you can help us. Make a one-time donation to support the quality, independent journalism of TheDCNF. We’re not dependent on commercial or political support and we do not accept any government funding.

For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.

DONATE TO BIZPAC REVIEW

Please help us! If you are fed up with letting radical big tech execs, phony fact-checkers, tyrannical liberals and a lying mainstream media have unprecedented power over your news please consider making a donation to BPR to help us fight them. Now is the time. Truth has never been more critical!

Success! Thank you for donating. Please share BPR content to help combat the lies.

Comment

We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.

PLEASE JOIN OUR NEW COMMENT SYSTEM! We love hearing from our readers and invite you to join us for feedback and great conversation. If you've commented with us before, we'll need you to re-input your email address for this. The public will not see it and we do not share it.

Latest Articles