9-year-old suffers head wound in Tacony shooting

TACONY (WPVI) -- Philadelphia police say a 9-year-old boy was injured in a shooting in the city's Tacony section.

The shooting happened around 3:20 p.m. Tuesday at the intersection of Torresdale Avenue and Knorr Street.

"He was all excited and I couldn't calm him down, he says, 'Please sir, don't let me die, I don't wanna die.'"

Augustin Rosado says those were the 9-year-old's words to him moments after being grazed by a bullet to the head.

Police say he, his mother, and a 4-year-old sibling had just left the Tacony Branch Library.

Philadelphia Police Lt. Dennis Rosenbaum explains, "They had just left the library with a 4-year-old sibling. She was putting the 4-year-old in the car when shots rang out on the corner."

Witnesses tell police that a teenager wearing a red bandanna was firing at a group of teenagers from across the street when the 9-year-old was caught in the crossfire.

James Toomer witness the shooting. He tells us, "You know, the kid was crossing the street and you know, you hear, 'POW-POW,' and he just started screaming."

Police say there are conflicting reports as to whether the shooter jumped into a getaway car.

NEIGHBORS WERE TAKEN ABACK THAT THIS HAPPEN IN BROAD DAYLIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY STREET:

Neighbor Rick Leone says, "Sir, to me that is the most brazen thing I could ever imagine. And not only do you have gun shootings in this particular neighborhood that they have the audacity to do it in broad daylight."

Police say the 9-year-old suffered a graze wound to the top left side of his head by a small caliber bullet. He has since been treated and released from Saint Christopher's Hospital.

Anyone who may have information on this incident is being asked to call 215-686-TIPS.