Philadelphia

‘He was ambushed': Man shot in the chest, killed while getting out of his car

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A man was killed after he was shot in the chest while returning home on Saturday, according to a spokesperson with the Philadelphia Police Department

The shooting happened on the 2000 block of East Cheltenham Avenue just after 7 p.m. in the northeast section of the city, police said.

A man in his early forties was found by responding police officers with a gunshot in his chest, Philadelphia Police Inspector D.F. Pace said. He was taken to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead just after 7:30 p.m.

Investigators uncovered that the victim had just pulled up outside of his home and was getting out of his car when someone in a gold-colored Chevy SUV stopped and opened fire, Inspector Pace explained.

"There’s no question that the individual was targeted. He was ambushed as he got out of his vehicle," Pace told NBC10.

The gunman fired at least seven shots in the direction of the victim leaving bullet holes throughout the victim's car and shattering the window on the drivers side, Pace said.

After the shooting, the gunman stopped at the traffic light at the end of the block and stayed there for two cycles of the light before speeding off, Police explained.

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There are additional resources for people or communities that have endured gun violence in Philadelphia. Further information can be found here.

A motive for the shooting is currently unknown and an investigation is ongoing, police said.

Some of the incident was captured on a nearby surveillance camera, according to Pace.

If you have any information about this incident, please call the Philadelphia Police Department's Homicide Unit at 215-686-3334.

You can also call or text the tip line at 215-686-TIPS (8477).

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