Man fatally shot by police in North Philadelphia

A 30-year-old man died clutching the gun he shot at police with in North Philadelphia on Berks Street near 20th just before midnight.

Police Chief Inspector Scott Small gave this account:

Officers from the 22nd District responded to the neighborhood around 11:30 p.m. Tuesday for calls about shots being fired in the area.

The sound of gunfire led the officers to Berks Street near 20th.

"They see a male crouching down, holding an assault weapon," Small said.

Police told the man to drop his weapon, and he began firing at the officers.

One officer returned fire and fatally shot the unidentified man in his head.

Five shell casings matching the man's weapon were recovered from the scene near his body.

There were no injuries to police, and the man's weapon was recovered from the scene. He was still holding the gun after he slumped to the pavement.

The man did not shoot anyone before police arrived on the scene.

The officer who fired the fatal shot was taken from the scene to speak with officials in Internal Affairs, and the Homicide Unit will also investigate the shooting.