Lawrence Packard, 73, of Jenkintown, was fatally shot by Philadelphia SWAT officers during a standoff early Wednesday morning near the Gary Barbera car dealership along the 7800 block of East Roosevelt Boulevard.

Police were called at about 4:56am on January 17 for a possible vehicle crash, NBC10 reported today. Officers found a Dodge Ram pickup truck parked on Borbeck Avenue blowing its horn ad nauseum.

An officer approached the truck and spoke with the man behind the wheel, later identified as Packard, and determined no assistance was needed.

As the officer was walking away, he heard two gunshots coming from the direction of the truck. The officer then spotted Packard holding a gun before calling for backup.

Responding officers created a barricade, established a perimeter, and called for SWAT assistance.

During the barricade, Packard fired in the direction of officers while still in the truck, police said. A witness told NBC10 Packard also “started throwing things from the vehicle” during the barricade. 

Packard then shot at SWAT Lieutenant William Schmid and SWAT Officer Patrick Saba who arrived on the scene.

Schmid and Saba returned fire, fatally wounding Packard, police said.

“It was intense,” a witness told NBC10. “I have never experienced anything like that. It was pretty nuts. It was like a small warzone over there.”

No officers were hurt during the incident.

Schmid is 42 years old, and a 21-year veteran assigned to SWAT. Saba is 38 years old and a 17-year veteran assigned to SWAT. Both have been placed on administrative duty pending the outcome of the internal affairs and officer-involved shooting investigations.

The initial responding officer’s body-worn camera was activated during the incident but did not capture the shooting itself.

For NBC10’s video coverage, you can watch below:

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Screengrab: NBC10