Man killed, 9-year-old boy shot in North Philadelphia, police say
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — A 9-year-old boy was shot, and a man was shot and killed after a shooting in North Philadelphia Friday evening. Police said the shooting happened on the 600 block of North 12th Street around 6:19 p.m.
Police blocked off North 12th Street and Fairmount Avenue Friday night in North Philadelphia. Multiple shell casings were on the ground and a car could be seen with bullet holes in it.
"That car took quite a bit of gunfire," Philadelphia Police Inspector D.F. Pace said.
Police said a man in his 30s was shot and killed. A 9-year-old was shot in the leg and is in stable condition at Jefferson Hospital. People who live in the area heard the shots.
"When I heard the shots. I heard three and then I heard maybe eight to 10," block captain Regina Farrell said. " I can't panic, I have to go make sure my neighbors are OK and I have to see if anyone needs help and I can panic later."
Police said it all started when a black Jeep Cherokee pulled up and at least two shooters started firing at a man on the street. Investigators said the man ran and took cover inside a nearby car that was running - where a 9-year-old boy was sitting.
"It's unclear whether he knew people in that vehicle or not, but he had the presence of mind to run into the vehicle attempting to avoid being shot," Pace said. "What, in fact, happened however is he ended up attracting gunfire."
The shooters kept firing at the car with the man and boy inside. The boy was hit once in the right leg while the man was hit multiple times in the torso. The target of the shooting pulled out a gun and fired back at the shooters as they fled in the Jeep, according to police.
"We don't believe the child was targeted. Tragically just at the wrong place at the wrong time," Pace said.
Police said after the shooting, the people in the car ran into a house and called for help. Investigators said they did find one gun inside the home.
Farrell said she spoke with family members of the shooting victims and provided them with trauma resources and help. She also said the violence has to stop.
"I am comfortable going home because I don't live in fear because you can't live that way. Am I happy with the circumstances? No, because we have to do better," Farrell said.
Police did not release a motive for the shooting. They said they are speaking to witnesses and hoping to use surveillance video in the area to help them in their investigation.