Philadelphia cop dies months after traffic stop shooting

A Philadelphia police officer shot during a traffic stop two months ago has died from his wounds, according to authorities.

“It is with a heavy heart that I inform you that our brave @PPD25Dist officer, P/O Jaime Roman, passed away this evening while surrounded by family,” Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel said on X late Tuesday night. “Please keep his family and friends in your prayers.”

Roman was shot around 7:30 p.m. on June 22 on the 3500 block of F Street, ABC 6 reported. Police said he and his partner stopped a 2003 dark blue Toyota Echo and determined that it was unregistered. They told the driver, identified as 36-year-old Ramon Rodriguez Vazquez, the vehicle needed to be seized and then proceeded to take inventory of what was inside.

During the search, the officers saw a holster and confronted Vazquez, who fled, police said. As he ran, Vazquez fired off three gunshots, striking Roman in the neck. His partner managed to return fire, but he was not able to hit Vazquez.

From there, the suspect attempted to carjack a minivan and then busted his way into two different homes.

Police said he held the second homeowner hostage inside the residence, drawing a large law enforcement response, including SWAT officers.

“There’s an individual he encounters in his 20s, sitting on the front step, just having a drink and minding his business,” Deputy Police Commissioner Frank Vanore said at the time. “He produces the gun, he forces that individual into his home and holds him at gunpoint.”

Vazquez was eventually taken into custody after a brief barricade situation and a firearm was recovered. He was initially charged with two counts of attempted murder of a law enforcement officer, aggravated assault on a law enforcement officers, gun violations, evading arrest and related offenses. His bail was set at $12.5 million.