Philadelphia school safety officer critical after being shot near Penn's Landing

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- A Philadelphia school safety officer is hospitalized in critical condition after being shot following a road rage incident, according to police.

It happened around 1:45 a.m. on the 300 block of Columbus Boulevard.

Officers found the 68-year-old male victim inside his school safety SUV that had crashed into a tree. Police say he suffered gunshot wounds to the face and arm.

According to Philadelphia Police Inspector D.F. Pace, the school safety officer was finishing up a shift nearby around 1:45 a.m. when he was flagged down by a person who reported being involved in a road rage incident on I-95.

The road rage victim told the safety officer that someone in a white Hyundai SUV pulled a gun on them, and that's when the 68-year-old tried to help.

"At that point, the officer attempted to either investigate or intervene in some way when the occupant of that Hyundai opened fire on that officer," Pace said.

The 68-year-old officer managed to drive a short distance before crashing into a tree in front of Dave and Busters along Columbus Boulevard.

The 6abc data journalism team uncovered that there were 12 road rage shootings in Pennsylvania over the last 12 months, but that has been falling over the last couple of years.

But it's still unnerving for people who live near this latest incident.

"It's just kind of crazy the way people will behave when they're behind the steering wheel," said one resident.

Police only have a vague description of the shooter at this point.

The family of the officer shot is asking for privacy.