Two men admitted in court on Wednesday to their roles in the tragic shooting of a Philadelphia police officer, a case that has deeply shaken the community. Hassan Elliott, 26, and Khalif Sears, 23, pleaded guilty to murder and racketeering charges tied to the death of SWAT Cpl. James O’Connor IV in March 2020.
The incident happened when police were attempting to arrest the pair in connection with a 2019 homicide. Authorities said that as officers made their way up a stairwell in Elliott’s apartment, Elliott fired a dozen shots through a wall, hitting O’Connor in the neck and arm. The shooting was fatal.
Sears and two others were inside the apartment and were taken into custody. According to federal prosecutors, Elliott and Sears were part of a gang involved in violent activities to dominate drug sales in Philadelphia’s Frankford neighborhood. Prosecutors said the gang was responsible for shooting at least a dozen people, killing three of them.
Now facing sentencing, prosecutors plan to recommend Elliott serve between 55 to 75 years in prison. Sears, who was involved as a co-conspirator, could receive 35 to 50 years. Both are expected to be sentenced in the spring. While Sears’ attorney declined to comment on the case, efforts to reach Elliott’s lawyer were unsuccessful.
Cpl. O’Connor’s widow, Terri, expressed the deep pain her family has endured since his death. In an emotional statement to the media, she described the loss as unfair, saying it had “ruined our lives.” O’Connor was just 46 years old and left behind two children, including a son who was serving on the police force when the tragedy occurred.
The Frankford community continues to feel the weight of the violence that claimed O’Connor’s life, a stark reminder of the dangers faced by law enforcement officers working to protect the city.
