Surveillance released in pharmaceutical deliveryman shooting in North Philadelphia

NORTH PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Police have released surveillance video in the shooting of a pharmaceutical deliveryman in North Philadelphia.

You can view the video on the Philadelphia Police Department's YouTube Channel.

Police responded to the 2300 block of Ridge Avenue around 10:40 a.m. Thursday for the report of a shooting.

When police arrived they found the victim, a 41-year-old male, who was suffering from a single gunshot wound to his right hand.

Police say as the man was making a delivery to the Wellness Pharmacy he was approached by two unknown males,

One of the suspects pulled a handgun pointing it at the victim, demanding his car keys.

When the victim told the suspect the keys were in the vehicle's ignition, the second suspect entered the driver seat of the vehicle in an attempt to take the vehicle.

Police say the victim pushed the first suspect to the ground. That's when the suspect fired one shot striking the victim in his right hand.

Both suspects then fled and were last seen west on Ridge Avenue without taking anything from the victim.

The 41-year-old deliveryman was transported to Hahnemann Hospital where he was listed in stable condition.

The first suspect is described as a black male, 6'1, thin build, wearing a black baseball hat, black clothing, and armed with a handgun. He was driving a 2000-2007 gold or tan Ford Taurus sedan with dark tinted windows and a rear spoiler.

The second suspect is described as black male, 5'9-5'10, stocky build, wearing a black shirt with a design on the back. He was driving a 1999-2003 silver or gray Ford Windstar mini-van.

"I'm in shock. You don't expect stuff like that to happen," pharmacist Negash Selassie said.

The pharmacy sits between two daycare centers.

Police were able to get video surveillance from cameras at the pharmacy and one of the daycare centers, the Stepping Stones Learning Academy, which captured a picture of the van going by.

The video shows a car following the delivery van. A passenger gets out of the car at the corner.

The street was busy with pedestrians when the shot was fired.

Two daycare employees pushing buggies full of toddlers had just turned the corner when the shot rang out.

Jennelle Scott, owner of Steeping Stones Learning Academy, tells us, "At any given moment we have over 100 children inside of the building, so it's very stressful that we keep those children safe."

Police believe the robbers had been casing the pharmacy and knew the delivery schedule.

The truck was loaded with containers full of narcotics and other drugs.

Pills, like oxycodone, can sell for upwards of $80 apiece on the street depending on the dosage.

But, it appears the robber and his accomplice were spooked and took off empty-handed.

It was quite a scare for employees of the pharmacy.

"We know everybody in the neighborhood. It's a shame for something like that to happen. Somebody had to watch him for a while. People don't just do that out of the blue," pharmacy assistant Tanysha Handy-Harrell said.

Anyone with information should contact 215.686.TIPS (8477) or text a tip to PPD TIP or 773847.