Officers responded to a report that Muhammed had assaulted his girlfriend. He barricaded himself inside the apartment and using a machete kept a 2-year-old and a disabled 26-year-old as hostages. Officials report that Muhammad was obviously under the influence of some drugs. After a standoff of a few hours he was fatally shot twice when his waving of the machete prompted officers to fear for the lives of the hostages.
Victim's Name: Ishmael Muhammad
Agency Responsible: Harrisburg Bureau of Police Department
Gender: Male
Age: 29
Race: Black
Date of Death: January 28, 2013
County: Dauphin
Cause of Death: Gunshot
Official Disposition: Justified
Criminal Charges: No known charges
Mental Illness: Drug or alcohol use
Armed: Allegedly Armed
Weapon: machete
Geography: Urban