Maurice Hill found guilty of attempted murder, related charges in ‘worst police shooting’ in recent Philadelphia history

The man who shot six Philadelphia police officers during a 2019 standoff in Tioga was found guilty Monday of three counts of attempted murder and more than a dozen related charges, bringing closure to one of the most significant attacks on police in city history.

Maurice Hill, 42, faced dozens of charges for the shooting, which laid siege to a residential stretch of North 15th Street and left scores of bullet casings littered across the ground.

District Attorney Larry Krasner, speaking in his office during a news conference on the verdict, called the Common Pleas Court jury’s decision “a tribute to the excellent work of Philadelphia police that night.”

“This kind of violence — shutting down an entire area, firing at police officers — has consequences," said Krasner, who recounted watching the incident unfold live on national news that afternoon. “That was one dark day that went into a dark night.”

During more than two weeks of proceedings, jurors heard impassioned arguments from Hill’s defense attorney, Ellis Palividas, that his client had acted in self defense the day of the shooting, entering “fight or flight” mode when narcotics officers rammed open the front door to search for drugs.

In their closing argument, however, prosecutors suggested that defense was a “distraction,” telling jurors that Hill had attempted to “assassinate the law” when he fired more than 130 rounds from an AR-15 semiautomatic rifle with an obliterated serial number as well as handguns, striking officers inside and outside the home; all survived their injuries.

“There is overwhelming evidence of the worst police shooting in the history of this city,” Assistant District Attorney Anthony Voci said during those arguments.

After the verdict, Sean Perez, an assistant district attorney who prosecuted the case alongside Voci, told reporters at the Criminal Justice Center that he believed the “sheer number of shots” Hill fired was crucial to sealing their argument.

“I think it really pointed out to the jury that this wasn’t just someone who was cowering in their back room ― he was actively shooting at police officers,” Perez said.

Palividas, speaking to reporters outside the Criminal Justice Center, said his team “respectfully had a different opinion” than the jury on the guilty charges.

“All we can ask for is a fair opportunity to be heard on it,” Palividas said.

Hill sat silently as the jury read their decision before Judge Diana L. Anhalt. Upon entering the courtroom, Hill flashed his mother a heart symbol with both hands before taking his seat.

Most of the charges related to 12 victims — all Philadelphia police officers.

In addition to the three attempted murder charges, Hill was found guilty of nine counts of aggravated assault, nine counts of assault of a law enforcement officer, endangering two people trapped inside the home, causing catastrophe, and two firearms charges.

The worst of those offenses commands decades in prison.

In the closing days of the trial, Hill himself testified that he believed that if he had tried to surrender as police had urged him to do, officers would try to shoot and kill him. Hill’s former personal attorney, Shaka Johnson, testified last week that Hill called him during the barricade and sounded shaky and frightened as he professed those fears.

Palividas told the jury that his client believed it was “invaders” who had broken into his home, leading him to fire blindly through his kitchen wall.

“We weren’t debating whether he fired ― we were debating why he fired,” Palividas told reporters after the verdict.

One of those shots struck police officer Shaun Parker in the head, inches above the ear, he testified. Officer Michael Guinter was struck in both arms and testified that the injury had left ongoing numbness in one limb.

Palividas said that because Hill was found guilty of only three of 12 counts of attempted murder — and not guilty of 19 of the crimes he faced overall — there was evidence that the jury gave “due and careful consideration” to his arguments.

The jury ultimately found Hill not guilty on three counts of aggravated assault and three counts of assault of a law enforcement officer.

He was also found not guilty of unlawfully restraining two of his former housemates, a father and son who were trapped for hours alongside two police officers on the second floor and had to be rescued by SWAT officers.

The panel additionally found Hill not guilty of conspiracy and of possessing drugs with the intent to distribute them.

Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel, speaking outside the Criminal Justice Center, said the guilty portions of the verdict represented “justice served.”

“To see the jury go through this ... very thoughtfully and be able to hold this person accountable ― we’re appreciative of that," said Bethel, who was not in charge of the department during the standoff but said he had watched the incident unfold “from afar.”

Roosevelt Poplar, president of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 5, said in a statement that the police union was “thankful for today’s guilty verdict and that this jury recognized the bravery and courage of our dedicated officers.”

Hill is expected to be sentenced on July 10.