Philadelphians decrying the killing of Eddie Irizarry Jr. gathered in West Kensington Thursday night, calling for more transparency and accountability from the city’s Police Department.
They met a few miles from where Officer Mark Dial shot 27-year-old Irizarry Jr. on August 14.
“The community got together to support the family,” said Zoraida Garcia, Irizarry Jr.’s aunt, who marched behind a banner that read “Justice for Eddie Irizarry.”
The Kensington community joined the family of Eddie “Junito” Irizarry Jr. in a march on August 31, 2023 from the Taller Puertorriqueño cultural center to the Philadelphia Police 24th District headquarters. They demanded the release of body cam footage of Officer Mark Dial, who shot and killed the 27-year-old, and for Dial to be charged with murder. (Kimberly Paynter/WHYY)
She said PPD’s decision to place Dial on a 30-day suspension with intent to dismiss for not cooperating with an internal investigation didn’t go far enough.
“We want him locked up, that’s all,” she said.
The Kensington community and the family of Eddie “Junito” Irizarry Jr. held a moment of silence on Willard Street where Irizarry was shot and killed by a Philadelphia police officer on August 31, 2023. (Kimberly Paynter/WHYY)
Home security footage from the shooting, provided by the family’s attorneys, shows Irizarry Jr. pulling his car over on Willard Street in Kensington. A few moments later, Dial arrives in a police vehicle and gets out with his gun drawn, shouting, “Show us your hands.” Within five seconds, he fires six shots into Irizarry Jr.’s car.
The family’s attorneys say Irizarry Jr., who is from Puerto Rico, did not speak English well and lived with schizophrenia. He was holding a pocket knife when Dial approached the car, the attorneys said.