A quiet stretch of Nesper Street in Northeast Philadelphia's Mayfair neighborhood turned into a crime scene Wednesday evening when a 15-year-old boy was shot in the chest and rushed to a hospital for treatment. The gunfire rang out just after 5 p.m. on the 3000 block, jolting a typically calm residential block and sending neighbors out of their homes as police arrived.
Officers quickly taped off the area while investigators combed the street for shell casings, knocked on doors and tried to track down anyone who might have seen what happened. Police say they are still working to pin down who pulled the trigger, why it happened and what led up to the shooting, according to 6abc. No suspect information or motive had been released as of Wednesday night, and there was no word of any arrests.
Victim Hospitalized At Jefferson-Torresdale
The wounded teen was taken to Jefferson-Torresdale Hospital, where he was listed in critical but stable condition, CBS Philadelphia reports. Hospital officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment, and detectives remained on the block into the evening as the sun went down and neighbors watched from their porches.
Where This Fits In The Week's Violence
The shooting comes in the middle of a rough stretch for the city. Between May 17 and May 23, Philadelphia recorded 18 shooting victims, according to Billy Penn's weekly gun-violence brief that cites city data. That roundup also notes 54 homicides so far this year, based on Philadelphia Police records, a sobering reminder of how frequently gunfire is cutting across neighborhoods.
How To Help
Police are asking anyone with information to call the department's tip line at 215-686-TIPS; tips can be submitted anonymously. Neighbors who saw anything or captured video on doorbell or security cameras are being urged to come forward, according to 6abc.
