Police probe man’s claim he shot officer in Allah’s name

In this frame from a Thursday, Jan. 7, 2016 video provided by the Philadelphia Police Department, Edward Archer runs with a gun toward a police car driven by Officer Jesse Hartnett in Philadelphia. Archer, using a gun stolen from police, said he was acting in the name of Islam when he ambushed Hartnett sitting in his marked cruiser at an intersection, firing shots at point-blank range, authorities said. (Philadelphia Police Department via AP) In this frame from a Thursday, Jan. 7, 2016 video provided by the Philadelphia Police Department, Edward Archer runs with a gun toward a police car driven by Officer Jesse Hartnett in Philadelphia. Archer, using a gun stolen from police, said he was acting in the name of Islam when he ambushed Hartnett sitting in his marked cruiser at an intersection, firing shots at point-blank range, authorities said. (Philadelphia Police Department via AP)

By Associated Press January 9, 2016 1 min read

PHILADELPHIA (AP) – Federal and local authorities are investigating the motive of a man they say confessed to shooting a Philadelphia police officer because he was “following Allah.”

Authorities spent much of Friday questioning 30-year-old Edward Archer. Police said Archer told them he believed the department “defends laws that are contrary to Islam” and that he has pledged his allegiance to the Islamic State group.

But Police Commissioner Richard Ross was not labeling the Thursday shooting a terrorist attack.

Archer’s mother told a newspaper he had been hearing voices recently.

Police say Archer fired at least 13 shots toward Officer Jesse Hartnett, who was able to return fire despite being seriously wounded. Police say the 9 mm pistol Archer used was stolen from another officer’s home more than two years ago.