Violent night in West Philadelphia
WEST PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- One person has died and two others are recovering after two shootings less than an hour apart in West Philadelphia Friday evening.
Philadelphia police say officers were patrolling the area near 56th and Pemberton streets around 5:15 p.m. when they heard gunshots.
"They find a 26-year-old black male, he's got two gunshot wounds to his back," said Philadelphia Police Lt. John Walker.
Police say that man was taken to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center in critical condition.
Officers also believe he was involved in the shooting.
Police say a man and woman in a car saw two men firing back and forth at each other and were almost struck themselves.
"The gentleman who was in the car with his wife did take a gunshot to the windshield of his car and did take some glass to the face. But he's doing fine," said Walker.
Later police located another victim: a 36-year-old man with a gunshot wound to the hip. He's at Penn Presbyterian in stable condition. Police believe he is an innocent bystander, who had just left the corner grocery store and happened to walk into the gunfire.
Less than an hour later, police responded to the 200 block of North Ruby Street.
"Upon police arrival, they found a 22-year-old male laying on front steps of a private residence," said Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small. "He was bleeding from the torso and the chest."
Officers went knocking on doors looking for information. Police are trying to figure out if the shootings are connected.
"The fact that they happened around the same time and the two scenes are around one-mile distance, we're looking at the possibility that they may be related," said Small.
Police said the victim from the Ruby Street shooting was taken to the hospital where he died early Saturday morning from his injuries.
That shooting is now being investigated as a homicide.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Southwest Detectives.
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