Woman in car struck by stray bullet in North Philadelphia; suspect charged

NORTH PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Police say they have charged a male suspect in the shooting that left an innocent woman injured while driving in North Philadelphia Thursday night.

The suspect, identified as 23-year-old Robert Palmer, was taken into custody on Friday.

The shooting happened around 11:00 p.m. Thursday.

The 32-year-old woman from Olney was driving home with two female friends.

As she reached the area of 17th Street and Susquehanna Avenue, she heard several shots and kept driving.

"She got to the intersection of 17th and Diamond, she realized she had pain in her back and she realized she had been shot," said Chief Inspector Scott Small, Philadelphia Police.

A bullet sliced into her car, and then into her back.

Police found evidence that ten shots had been fired from a semi-automatic weapon. They also found vials of what appears to be crack cocaine nearby, leading them to believe the shooting was drug related.

Two female passengers in the car were not hurt.

Chief Inspector Small says, "The rear seat passenger is very fortunate, very lucky to be sitting on the passenger side of the vehicle. Two feet away, if she was sitting behind the driver she could have been shot."

Officers say this was a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

When the victim was first taken to Temple University Hospital she was listed in critical condition. She has since undergone surgery and she was upgraded to stable condition.

Palmer faces charges including Attempted Murder, Aggravated Assault and related offenses.