Elderly Men In Critical Condition After West Philadelphia Double Shooting
By Elizabeth Hur
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Two older men, ages 81 and 69, were caught in a cross fire, and one of them is fighting for his life.
Police say it happened shortly before 9 p.m. on Friday night.
"As a car is driving South on 41st Street, we had a male, a young African American male on foot, comes off the sidewalk firing at the car, we're not quite sure if the car was firing back, but he fired 8 to 10 shots at this car," said Lt. John Walker, with the Philadelphia Police Department.
Unfortunately, the flying bullets hit the two men, innocent bystanders police say. A cane and a hat next to a pool of blood at the corner of 41st and Parrish Streets marked the spot where the 81-year-old was shot in the head. Just one block up at 41st and Ogden Streets, a 69-year-old man in a wheelchair was hit three times--once in his left arm and twice in his lower back. As of Friday night, the 81-year-old was in critical condition and the 69-year-old was listed in critical but stable condition.
Lt. Walker added, "We're waiting to speak with him after he receives medical care. Hopefully, we'll be able get some idea as to what exactly happened out here this evening."
Investigators spent the night gathering evidence from the scene to get some answers. Without any witnesses, they're hoping anyone with information does the right thing and comes forward.
"Obviously our concern, we're one day away from New Year here. We got lifelong residents of this community who were obviously in the senior years of their life who were unfortunately caught in a cross fire, gunned down in this senseless act of violence. It needs to stop. The community out here needs to be angry and concerned about this behavior, because people like this in the community do not need to be out here because they are dangerous to everybody," Lt. Walker said.
Police say the names of the victims will be released after their family members are notified.
