Michael Carpenter was 19 when a traffic stop in Philadelphia turned deadly on the evening of February 27, 1978. According to accounts, Officer Marcus Giardino pulled the African American teenager over; the stop escalated, and Carpenter, who was unarmed, was shot in the back as he attempted to run from the officer.

The shooting attracted attention across the city and became a significant event in Philadelphia history because of questions it raised about police conduct. Officer Giardino was arrested and later pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter that year. That conviction was only the second time a Philadelphia police officer had been convicted for the killing of a Black man.

What additional information do readers have about Michael Carpenter’s life or the events of that night?