In a wild series of events, a teenager was shot on a SEPTA bus in Philadelphia on Friday evening, according to a spokesperson with the police department. After the shooting, the people involved in the shooting fled in a car and led police on a chase throughout the city.
It all started with the shooting that happened on a crowded bus around 6:16 p.m. near the intersection of North 3rd Street and West Allegheny Avenue in North Philadelphia on Oct. 4, police said.
"It's harrowing," Philadelphia Police Inspector D.F. Pace said. “Detectives have their work cut out for them. There will be a number of units that are going to be working together to find out what exactly happened here and bring the persons responsible to justice.”
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Shooting on SEPTA bus
Philadelphia Police Inspector D.F. Pace told NBC10 that the shooting happened on a crowded SEPTA bus that was traveling along Allegheny Avenue.
A 17-year-old boy was shot while on the bus, police said. He was taken to a nearby hospital by a private vehicle where he was placed in extremely critical condition.
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The driver of the SEPTA bus was not sure if the shooting happened on the bus or outside of the bus, Pace explained. They continued to drive a couple of blocks and informed the SEPTA control center which sent the information to police.
Officers were nearby and able to respond quickly, Pace said. It was discovered that the shooting did actually happen inside the bus with about 30 people on board at the time.
One spent shell casing and one projectile were found inside the bus, Pace explained. The bus was found to have bullet holes, but it's unclear if these were exit holes or if shots were fired toward the bus.
The shooting disabled the bus, Pace had said. SEPTA engineers are working to get the bus running again so officials can recover the video.
SkyForce10 was over the area where the shooting happened shortly after the incident. At least two police cars were visible.
Pace said that a gun was recovered in the area of 4th Street and Allegheny Avenue. He also said that there were four spent shell casings in this same location.
Shooting leads to police chase with stolen car
The shooter, or shooters, fled from the SEPTA bus and got into a stolen silver-colored Hyndai, according to Pace.
Officers saw a silver Hyundai that matched the description of the stolen car that was traveling at a high rate of speed and they started to chase it, Pace said.
The Philadelphia Police Department's Aviation Unit was in the air and was able to assist the officers on the ground as they followed the silver car, according to Pace.
That speeding silver car eventually crashed into a parked car at 5th Street and Greenwood Avenue, Pace told NBC10.
The driver of the Hyundai bailed and ran away on foot but was quickly captured by officers, Pace explained.
In surveillance video obtained by NBC10, the driver of the stolen vehicle, wearing a brown-colored sweater, is seen jumping out of the car as it's still moving and running away. The car is then seen crashing into a parked car and ending up on the sidewalk.
A person who is standing at the adjacent corner can be seen pointing in the direction that the suspect fled as the first police car comes into frame and turns to follow the running suspect.
As the car approaches the intersection where it ultimately stopped, a pedestrian can be seen in surveillance running out of the way.
A second person also fled from the car wearing a black puffy coat, Pace said. That second suspect removed the coat and ran through a field to get away. Police are still searching for this person.
SkyForce10 was over the scene outside of a corner store where a silver sedan could be seen up on the sidewalk and surrounded by several police cars.
Officers could be seen outside of their vehicles surveilling the area.
Inspector Pace explained that investigators are working to review surveillance cameras in the area. Some information that has been discovered so far has come from witnesses as well.
The teenager who was shot is believed to be the intended victim, according to Pace.
If you have any information on this case, please contact the Philadelphia Police Department's Shooting Investigations Group at 215-686-8270. You can also leave a tip by calling or texting 215-686-TIPS (8477).
There are additional resources for people or communities that have endured gun violence in Philadelphia. Further information can be found here.
