PHILADELPHIA—Authorities say an off-duty Philadelphia police officer was apparently able to get his gun out of his holster before he was shot and killed, but they don't know whether he was able to fire.

Police said the officer had just gotten off his overnight shift and was not wearing his uniform as he walked along a north Philadelphia street, where he was shot multiple times just before 6 a.m. Saturday and later died at Hahnemann University Hospital.

Lt. Raymond Evers says the officer's duty weapon was found under his body, but police don't know whether it was discharged. They are checking to see if anything was taken from his backpack.

Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey says it's a blow for a department mourning the loss of another officer last month.