A man who allegedly hit plainclothes officers with his car while trying to flee a traffic stop Wednesday night in Northwest Philadelphia was shot and killed by one of the officers, officials said.

The man was unarmed and turned out not to be the subject of a homicide investigation that initially prompted officers to pull him over, First Deputy Commissioner Myron Patterson said at a press conference Thursday.

Police identified the man as Dennis Plowden, 25, of the 1600 block of E. Walnut Lane. They released a more detailed account of the incident a few hours after Patterson's press conference.

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According to police, the incident began just after 8:30 p.m. Wednesday on Ogontz Avenue, when the plainclothed officers saw a 2013 Hyundai that was wanted in connection with a homicide earlier this month.

At 16th Street and Nedro Avenue, the man stopped his car, police said. A woman was in the front passenger seat.

As the officers got out of their unmarked car, Plowden accelerated the Hyundai, striking the police car and "contacting the officer," the police statement read. Plowden drove off.

Officers found his Hyundai shortly afterward with "extensive damage" and saw several other cars with damage, according to the police statement. Plowden got out of the car and tried to run away; he did not respond to officer commands to show his hands, police said.

Plowden was on the sidewalk when he put his hand in his pocket, police said. One officer fired and shot him in the head, police said. He was pronounced dead Thursday morning at Albert Einstein Medical Center. 

One police officer was transported to Temple University Hospital for injuries to his right arm and hand, police said. He was treated and released. The woman in the car suffered bruises and abrasions from the crash.

The officers involved in the shooting have not yet been identified, though Patterson said Thursday that they would be within 72 hours.

Homicide detectives are investigating the shooting, Patterson said.

Mayor Jim Kenney issued a statement about the incident Thursday night.

"My prayers are with the family and friends of Dennis Plowden," Kenney's statement read. "It is always tragic to lose someone you love. I am relieved there were no serious injuries to the officer or to the other passenger in the car."

Kenney said the city's Officer Involved Shooting Investigation Unit would do a full investigation. "I look forward to them coming to a speedy resolution for the sake of Mr. Plowden, his family, the officers and for Philadelphia."

A 9th grade student from Chester County, Pennsylvania is dead after he was shot during a botched robbery attempt in the midst of a drug deal.

Chester County District Attorney Tom Hogan said Thursday that investigators are looking for three to four people who were involved in the confrontation that led to the death of 15-year-old Jayson Ortiz-Cameron.

The shooting took place around 7:15 p.m. Wednesday behind a Dunkin' Donuts at 218 Nutt Road in Phoenixville.

Ortiz-Cameron and his friends were waiting behind the restaurant to take part in a marijuana sale and had planned to rob the other participants during the transaction, Hogan said.

Surveillance video showed a group of three to four people in a car pull up to the teen and his friends, according to Hogan. An argument ensued that ended with the shooting.

Ortiz-Cameron was pronounced dead a short time later.

The car — a compact, dark colored sedan — was last seen pulling onto Milligan Street. Authorities are now working to identify the shooter and others involved.

"All of this violence was triggered by a little bit of weed and a little bit of greed. It is senseless," Hogan said in a statement.

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Ortiz-Cameron was a freshman at Phoenixville Area High School, which opened during the winter break to make counselors available to students and staff on Thursday. The district plans to hold a Day of Healing on Jan. 2, 2018 with a school assembly.

As police continue to search for those involved, Hogan had a message for the other people in the car: Come forward now and you won't be charged.

"Some individuals may be treated as witnesses rather than defendants, but that opportunity decreases with every minute you stay on the run. We are using multiple investigative tools and leads to track you down," Hogan said.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Chester County Detectives at 610-344-6866.

The death of an 11-year-old girl Wednesday at a sleepover at a neighbor's house was due to natural causes, police said Thursday.

A detective didn't say why the child died, but said the medical examiner had conducted an autopsy Thursday and found no evidence of foul play or trauma.

Lt. Dennis Rosenbaum, from the Philadelphia Police Department Northeast Division, added that the death was not due to a pre-existing condition. This was "something they didn't know existed," he said.

Some tests, including a neuropathology test and toxicology tests, are still pending, but based on the medical examiner's finding so far, a criminal investigation into the girl's death has been ended.

The family is "at peace now," Rosenbaum said.

Because there is no evidence of a crime, it's not clear if the child's name or full cause of death will be released.

The girl died while at a sleepover with a friend in the Torresdale section of Northeast Philadelphia.

Several children were in a second-floor bedroom, but one did not wake up Wednesday morning, police said. Adults were home at the time of the incident and called first responders immediately. 

New Year's Eve will be bitterly cold, but could we see some snow this weekend? NBC10 meteorologist Glenn "Hurricane" Schwartz has your forecast.

While kids are off from school but still trying to stay warm, winter camps are the perfect idea. NBC10's Rosemary Connors caught up with some kids at one winter camp in East Falls who avoided the bitter cold temperatures.

With tax talk increasing, plenty of people have questions about prepaying your property taxes. NBC10's Lauren Mayk explains.

Here's a list of services to help the homeless. Keep these numbers handy in case you see someone who needs help in the bitter cold.

In Philadelphia, call the homeless outreach hotline: 215-232-1984 or 1-877-222-1984.

Or click here for more information. 

In the rest of Pennsylvania: Call 211

Or click here for a list of shelters by county.

In Camden, call 211 or (856) 757-7689.

Click here for more shelters and information. 

In the rest of New Jersey, call 211

Or click here for more information. 

In Delaware, call 211

Or click here for more information.

As of now, the 2018 Mummers Parade is still on for New Year's Day, but that may change if this Arctic freeze worsens.

Thomas Derr, spokesperson for the Mummers organizations, told NBC10 that parade organizers and the city discussed postponing the annual parade due to the severe cold during a meeting on Thursday.

Derr said the final decision would be made Saturday during a conference call.

Thursday night, Mummer string bands were out in the cold practicing not only their routines but also how to play in frigid temperatures.

"The horns are going to freeze up," said Charles Nicholas, captain of the Pennsport String Band, which briefly practiced outside Thursday. "The music is not going to sound as good as it should."

The NBC10 First Alert Weather Team says the high temperature in Philadelphia on New Year's Day will come in around 20 degrees. Frigid winds will make it feel close to zero.

If the 117-year-old parade is postponed, it could move to Saturday, Jan. 6, 2018. But that weekend is expected to be bitterly cold as well.

The parade has been canceled or postponed in the past due to rain or snow, most recently in 2003. But the Mummers have marched in the cold in the past.

Some years, they have even had warming stations to help manage the cold. 

If you like to knit, listen up! The American Heart Association and the Children's Heart Foundation are looking for volunteers to knit red hats for babies born in February. February is American Heart Month.

While crews get ready for New Year's Eve in Philadelphia, the bitter cold temperatures are changing the way they prepare. NBC10's Brandon Hudson explains.

Meryl Levitz, CEO of Visit Philadelphia, talks about the highlights of ringing in the new year in Philadelphia, including the anticipated fireworks show and the Mummers Day Parade on Jan. 1 (that is, if it's not too frigid to strut).

Here are the top news stories you need to know to start your day from your friends at NBC10.

TODAY'S TOP STORY 

Drexel Professor Resigns After Controversial Tweets: A Drexel University professor who received threats of violence and death after a series of Tweets -- and whom Fox News called "perhaps the most consistently controversial figure in higher education this year" -- has resigned from the Philadelphia university. Associate professor George Ciccariello-Maher wrote on Twitter that this was "not a decision I take lightly.” But, he said, "nearly a year" of harassment and threats of violence, which he said came from "right-wing, white supremacist media outlets and internet mobs," had made staying at Drexel unsustainable. He said he would deepen his research, writing "and my political organizing in the service of those movements most capable of confronting the urgent tasks of the present.” Ciccariello-Maher had been on leave since October. He said in an op-ed piece published in The Washington Post that the university placed him on leave after a series of tweets about the shooting massacre at a Las Vegas country music festival prompted death threats. The political science and global studies professor had posted a tweet reading, "It's the white supremacist patriarchy, stupid." That tweet was followed by a series of similar statements. The professor wrote in the op-ed that threats came in after conservative media outlets highlighted his tweets. The university said the decision was necessary to ensure campus safety.

• MORE ON THE RESIGNATION
  

WHAT YOU MISSED YESTERDAY

Death of 11-Year-Old at Sleepover Due to Natural Causes: The death of an 11-year-old girl Wednesday at a sleepover at a neighbor's house was due to natural causes, police said Thursday. A detective didn't say why the child died, but said the medical examiner had conducted an autopsy Thursday and found no evidence of foul play or trauma. Lt. Dennis Rosenbaum, from the Philadelphia Police Department Northeast Division, added that the death was not due to a pre-existing condition. This was "something they didn't know existed," he said. Some tests, including a neuropathology test and toxicology tests, are still pending, but based on the medical examiner's finding so far, a criminal investigation into the girl's death has been ended. The family is "at peace now," Rosenbaum said.

• MORE ON THE DEATH
  

YOUR FIRST ALERT FORECAST  

Friday is expected to be cold with temperatures in the 20s and "feels like" temperatures in the teens. Light snow is possible for Saturday morning and is expected to move through the area by the afternoon. Sunday is expected to be bitter cold with temperatures in the 20s and "feels like" temps in the teens and single digits. Monday's high temperature may not reach 20 degrees. Tuesday is expected to be sunny with 20 degree temperatures and Wednesday could see snow. Get your full NBC10 First Alert forecast here.

Mummers Mull Postponing Parade: As of now, the 2018 Mummers Parade is still on for New Year's Day, but that may change if this Arctic freeze worsens. Thomas Derr, spokesperson for the Mummers organizations, told NBC10 that parade organizers and the city discussed postponing the annual parade due to the severe cold during a meeting on Thursday. Derr said the final decision would be made Saturday during a conference call. Thursday night, Mummer string bands were out in the cold practicing not only their routines but also how to play in frigid temperatures. "The horns are going to freeze up," said Charles Nicholas, captain of the Pennsport String Band, which briefly practiced outside Thursday. "The music is not going to sound as good as it should.” The NBC10 First Alert Weather Team says the high temperature in Philadelphia on New Year's Day will come in around 20 degrees. Frigid winds will make it feel close to zero.

• MORE ON THE PARADE
  

AROUND THE WORLD

Latin American Athletes Aim for 1st Medal at Winter Games: No athlete from a Latin American country has ever managed to win an Olympic medal in winter, but plenty of hopefuls are undeterred, with some training in the United States as they look to qualify for the 2018 Games in Pyeongchang. Costa Rica has been absent from the Winter Olympics for more than a decade    and its only hope for breaking that streak at the upcoming Olympics is Andre Hamm, a 22-year-old slopestyle skier who is the only athlete the Costa Rican Olympic Committee has backed in qualifications, which will finish this January. Hamm was 11 years old when Costa Rica last sent a "tico," as the country's residents are affectionately known, to the Winter Olympics. "I feel very proud to be the only Costa Rican athlete interested in qualifying for the Winter Olympics," Hamm said. "It's a great opportunity to show the world that the ticos are capable of reaching a worldwide level in whichever sport."

• MORE ON THE OLYMPICS
  

That's what you need to know to Catch Up Quickly, but we've got more stories worthy of your time. Click here to check them out. 

Neighbors and firefighters rush to the rescue of a family after fire tore through their home in Delanco, New Jersey. Matt DeLucia has the details.

The weather will most definitely impact holiday plans this weekend as temperatures will feel below freezing. NBC10's Miguel Martinez-Valle caught up with some people who were making their weekend plans.

A fire in Horsham posed a complicated threat for firefighters as they battled the flames and the freezing temperatures outside. NBC10's Deanna Durante has the story.

For children living a peanut allergy, eating can sometimes be a chore. But one new treatment is aiming to overcome those allergies. NBC10's Dray Clark explains.

Eagles. Mummers. RiverRink ice skating. Staying active is part of the plan for those still enjoying outdoor winter festivities as New Year's Day approaches.

As the temperatures are dropping, the lottery jackpot is rising! Now, some players are hoping to win enough cash for a warm escape to start 2018.

A storm is making its way across the region and is leaving a blanket of snow for many. 

Read on for some tips to help you cope with this dangerously cold weather at home, in your car or when caring for your pets:

AROUND YOUR HOME

1. Stay indoors if possible. If you must go outdoors, officials urge you dress warmly and wear loosefitting, layered, lightweight clothing. Wear a scarf over your mouth to protect your lungs.
2. Watch for signs of hypothermia, including uncontrollable shivering, weak pulse, disorientation, incoherence and drowsiness, and frostbite, including gray, white or yellow skin discoloration, numbness and waxy-feeling skin.
3. Have safe emergency heating equipment in your home, as well as a flashlight, portable radio and three days' worth of food in case the power goes out.
4. To prevent frozen pipes, State Farm suggests letting your hot and cold faucets drip overnight and open cabinet doors to allow heat to get to uninsulated pipes under sinks on exterior walls.
5. Find the water shut-off valve in your home in advance of a water emergency, so you know where to go if a pipe bursts, D.C. Water spokesperson Pamela Mooring advised.
6. Disconnect garden hoses and, if practical, use an indoor valve to shut off and drain water from pipes leading to outside faucets.
7. If you' are going away for an extended period of time, be sure to maintain adequate heat inside your home at no lower than 55 degrees.
8. Do not place a space heater within three feet of anything combustible.
9. Go ahead and program your local utility contact information into your cellphone now, before you need them. 

   Important Utility Numbers include:

        — PECO: 1-800-841-4141
        — PSE&G: 1-800-436-7734
        — PP&L: 1-800-342-5775
        — Atlantic City Electric: 1-800-833-7476
        — Delmarva Power: 1-800-375-7117

• Download the free NBC10 app for severe weather alerts and live radar.

KEEPING YOUR CAR SAFE AND RUNNING

10. If your car battery is three years old or older, it is more likely to fail as temperatures drops, according to AAA. Never attempt to charge or jump-start a battery that is frozen, as it may rupture or explode.
11. Never warm up a vehicle in an enclosed area, such as a garage.
12. Make certain your tires are properly inflated.
13. Keep your gas tank at least half full to avoid gas line freeze-up.
14. If possible, avoid using your parking brake in cold, rainy and snowy weather.
15. Wintry weather can contribute to the deterioration of your windshield wipers. Worn blades streak and impair vision, which is critical during winter months. AAA says wiper blades should be replaced every year.
16. Keep your washer fluid topped off with winter formula fluid so it won't freeze. Many of your car's fluids should be checked once a month.

KEEPING YOUR PET(S) SAFE

17. Keep your pets inside. Dogs and cats left outside can freeze, get injured or become lost.
18. If there are outdoor cats in your area, bang on the hood of your car before starting the engine to give them a chance to escape.
19. The ASPCA suggests wiping your dogs' legs, feet and abdomens when they come in from snowy or icy conditions. Dogs can ingest salt, antifreeze and other chemicals when licking their paws.
20. Never leave your pet inside a car unattended.

Get the latest weather from NBC10:

• FREE NBC10 app: click here
• Interactive Radar: click here
• Complete Weather Coverage: click here

If you'll be outdoors for New Year's Eve, listen up. You'll need your heavy coat, gloves, hats, and any warm gear you can get your hands on. NBC10 meterologist Glenn "Hurricane" Schwartz has your forecast.