Suspect wanted for shooting teen outside North Philadelphia rec center: police
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Police say a 15-year-old is in stable condition at St. Christopher's Hospital after a shooting outside the Dendy Recreation Center in North Philadelphia Wednesday.
Police are still searching for the person responsible. They say they are looking for a man on a bike in connection to a shooting on the playground of the Dendy Recreation Center at 10th and Jefferson Street.
Police say a 15-year-old was shot in the back around 4 p.m.
Authorities say the suspect was wearing a white mask, black North Face jacket, black sweatpants with distinct writing above the knees and green New Balance sneakers. The suspect is considered armed and dangerous.
"For this to happen today it's just mind-boggling," Darrell Clarke said.
Neighbors say they heard the shots as they were outside enjoying the weather.
"I am sitting in my backyard, like the kids say chillin, and that's what I heard," Angela Vessellieu said. "I didn't see anything I was just shocked."
The rec enter is the same place where the mayor and city council announced a plan last week to install more than 100 cameras outside of rec centers across the city to create safe play zones.
"And yet someone figured out how to shoot someone in the middle of a playground in the middle of the day," Clarke said. "It's just sad."
"We need more boots in the ground we need to have more staff at our rec center, security guards, social workers, recreational therapists to make our centers safe and vibrant," recreation leader Brett Besslar.
City Council President Darryl Clark says what's going on in the city is alarming and says this area where the shooting happened is generally safe and always crowded with people of all ages.
"We are seeing gunshots in places that you would never have thought," Clark said. "Unfortunately now, there is no place in the city of Philly where there couldn't potentially be a gunshot."
"This is my neighborhood. These are my people," Vessellieu said. "That's what they are. The neighborhood is a good neighborhood."
If you recognize the person in the picture you are asked to call police.
