January 14, 2016
Hayden Mitman/for PhillyVoice
James Comey, director of the FBI, addressed reporters in Philadelphia on Jan. 14, 2016, to talk about the shooting of Philadelphia police Officer Jesse Hartnett.
Investigators have found "no sign" that the man charged with shooting Philadelphia Police Officer Jesse Hartnett is linked to a local terror cell, FBI Director James Comey said Thursday.
There also is no evidence leading authorities to believe that there could be a follow-up attack, Comey said.
Edward Archer, 30, of Yeadon, Delaware County, allegedly opened fire on Hartnett, 33, as the officer sat inside his police cruiser near 60th and Spruce streets on Jan. 7. Police said Archer shot 13 times at Hartnett, striking him three times in the left arm.
Archer has been charged with attempted murder and is being held without bail. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Jan. 25.
Comey said the FBI is investigating the incident as a terrorist attack, after Archer's comments that the shooting was in support of the Islamic State.
"We are investigating this attack as a terrorist attack," the FBI's director said. "So far, we have no indication that he [Archer] was part of an organized cell."
Comey admittedly was evasive when answering some questions, telling reporters he was purposely being "slippery" in avoiding questions about the investigation.
The director declined to comment on where or how Archer allegedly got his hands on the stolen police-issue weapon; if Archer had ever traveled to Egypt as has been reported; or on when or how Archer may have become radicalized.
He debunked one theory that Archer may worked with three others in planning the attack. Comey called the prior report that claimed law enforcement officials was seeking others Archer had worked with "false."
"That is false," he said. "We aren't seeking anybody."
Earlier Thursday, Sen. Bob Casey, joined Mayor Jim Kenney and Police Commissioner Richard Ross, to say essentially the same thing.
Investigators are looking at Archer's life and history, Comey said, in an attempt to determine how and when he may have become radicalized. He also said the Philadelphia is not a "hotbed for radicalization," saying individuals across the country could become radicalized by ISIS simply by thinking that "the way you find meaning in life is by hurting other people."
ISIS has targeted law enforcement officials and members of the military, even sharing names and addresses in an attempt to target people, Comey said, and those radicalized individuals might hear ISIS saying "murder someone where you are to be a member of this family."
The investigation, he said, is ongoing.
"We still have a lot of work to do," said Comey.
