14-Year-Old Boy Left Fighting For Life After Ambush-Style Shooting In North Philadelphia
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PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Police are investigating an ambush-style shooting in North Philadelphia that has left a 14-year-old boy fighting for his life.
The gunfire broke out overnight on the 3100 block of Park Avenue, near Temple's Health Sciences Center Campus.
Philadelphia Police responded to the scene around 12:30 a.m. Monday. Police believe at least two gunmen started firing and struck a 25-year-old man, believed to be the intended target. They also hit a 14-year-old boy, who was riding by on the corner on a bike.
Investigators say the suspects fired at least 20 shots from two semi-automatic weapons.
"We know at least 20 shots were fired from two separate caliber semi-automatic weapons," said Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small. "It appears this may have been some sort of shootout."
The 25-year-old victim is at Temple University Hospital in critical condition with eight gunshot wounds to both legs. Meantime, the 14-year-old is in critical condition, clinging to life, at St. Christopher Hospital with gunshot wounds to the face and neck. It's unclear whether that teen will survive.
"We don't know if he's going to regain consciousness again. That's how serious it is," Capt. Nicholas Brown said of the teen's injuries.
Authorities say the 25-year-old is believed to have been the intended target. The teen was caught in the crossfire.
Brown says the two victims knew each other and had been speaking right before the shooting.
"It appears two shooters cornered these two guys in the middle and fired upon them," said Brown.
Joseph Satterthwaite says he was watching TV when he heard gunfire erupting outside of his home.
"It was like bam, bam, bam, that's it," he said.
The suspect is described as a black man of a medium build, with short black hair, last seen wearing a white shirt and purple pants. Investigators are reviewing surveillance video that were pointed directly at this crime scene.
