Couple gunned down near Rite Aid in Northeast Philadelphia

NORTHEAST PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Philadelphia police continue to investigate the shooting of a couple outside a Rite Aid Monday night.

Gunfire erupted at 11:30 p.m. on the 6500 block of Castor Avenue in Northeast Philadelphia.

The victims were left lying next to each other on the ground, having been hit multiple times with bullets from a large caliber semi-automatic weapon.

One of the victims, a 55-year-old male, was shot three times in the abdomen. The 46-year-old female victim, who police say is the man's fiance, was shot at least nine times.

Both are hospitalized in critical condition after extensive surgery. Both are expected to survive the attack.

Police are convinced this was the result of some kind of on-going dispute - not a robbery attempt.

Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small explains, "We know that the shooter fired these shots from point-blank range. But there're businesses right in the immediate area that do have exterior surveillance cameras that are pointing in the direction of where the ballistic evidence is, as well as where our victims were laying."

Police have reviewed surveillance video but have not yet released it to the media.

Before he went into surgery, the male victim gave police the name of their assailant. He told police he owed the gunman money.

Sources say the suspect is a "big time drug dealer." Police are now in the process of obtaining an arrest warrant - charges will include attempted murder.

Police have recovered a handgun they believe was used in this apparent crime of passion.

The suspect is being described as a male, 5'5" tall, wearing a dark or black hooded sweatshirt and jeans.

Police say he fled on foot and may have headed to the 6100 block of Algon Avenue.