A routine ambulance ride in South Philadelphia turned tense Thursday night when a bullet struck the medic unit as it transported a patient to a Center City hospital, authorities say. The round hit the vehicle’s passenger-side mirror while it was moving along Snyder Avenue near 15th Street and Passyunk Avenue just after 9 p.m. No patients or EMS employees were injured.
According to 6abc Philadelphia, the crew finished the run, dropped the patient off at Jefferson Hospital in Center City, and then notified police. Investigators are working to figure out who pulled the trigger, and the station reports the bullet struck the passenger-side mirror. Officials at the scene did not report any injuries to patients or medical staff.
How crews respond when gunfire erupts
Stray rounds hitting emergency vehicles are rare, but Philadelphia medics have seen this nightmare scenario before. In a 2017 incident, crews reportedly hit the deck on the medic unit’s floor to shield a patient until nearby gunfire stopped, an episode detailed in Becker's Hospital Review. That earlier case highlighted the split-second calls EMS workers must make to keep patients safe when violence erupts close by.
Neighborhood history
The stretch of Snyder Avenue near 15th and Passyunk has seen its share of serious gun violence. The Philadelphia Inquirer reported an "execution-style" killing at 15th and Snyder in August 2024, underscoring the area’s recent struggles with shootings and the risks first responders face while working nearby.
Investigation underway
Police say the investigation into Thursday night’s incident remains active and are asking anyone with information to step forward, according to 6abc Philadelphia. No arrests have been announced in connection with the shooting.
