In the early hours of May 4, 2016, 52-year-old Richard Ferretti was shot and killed by a Philadelphia police officer in the Overbrook neighborhood during a confrontation that began when officers reported a suspicious minivan circling near Saint Joseph’s University. Undercover officers followed Ferretti’s vehicle and summoned backup; a marked police car with lights flashing pulled in behind him. Police say Ferretti did not stop, accelerated toward officers after being ordered to turn off his engine, and Officer Shannon Coolbaugh fired multiple times, killing Ferretti.

Witnesses disputed parts of that account, saying they heard Ferretti shout he was stopping just before shots were fired, and his family said he was unarmed and merely looking for a parking spot. The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office investigated and in May 2018 announced it would not file criminal charges, concluding the officer was legally justified in using deadly force because he reasonably believed he faced grave danger. Ferretti’s family later sued the city and Officer Coolbaugh for excessive force and policy violations; the city settled with the relatives for $300,000 in early 2022.

Are there witnesses or readers with additional detail about the moments before the shooting who can shed light on what happened?