Just after midnight Tuesday, a quiet Germantown block turned into a crime scene when a gunman opened fire on a parked car, critically injuring a 37-year-old man as he sat with his girlfriend. The victim was shot in the cheek and rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was listed in extremely critical condition. His girlfriend, who was in the passenger seat, was not hurt.
What police say
According to NBC10 Philadelphia, the shooting happened around 12:16 a.m. as the couple sat in a Cadillac behind a property on the 5500 block of Market Square, near Ashmead Street and Germantown Avenue. Investigators say the shooter unloaded 14 rounds into the vehicle, hitting the driver in the cheek while somehow missing the passenger entirely. Police described the suspect as a man wearing dark clothing who ran into a vacant rental property under construction, then jumped a wall and disappeared into an alley.
Officer's account
Capt. Timothy Stephan told NBC10 Philadelphia, "Unknown how she didn't get hit, obviously, she was a passenger in a car with 14 rounds hitting that car," underscoring how close this came to being a double shooting. After he was struck, the wounded driver managed to back out of the lot and drive to Germantown and Collom streets, where he flagged down an officer, Stephan said. That officer rushed him to a nearby hospital, where he was listed in extremely critical condition. Police have not recovered a weapon, and no arrests had been made as of the latest update.
Investigation and tips
Detectives are reviewing surveillance footage from the area and working to track the gunman. Anyone with information or video that could help the investigation is urged to call 215-686-TIPS (8477) or submit a tip through the department's website, according to the Philadelphia Police Department. Residents can also register their private security cameras with the department's SafeCam program so investigators can access footage more quickly when violence breaks out on their block.
A neighborhood pattern
The shooting adds to a troubling run of gun violence in Germantown. Local coverage detailed a May 17 fight that escalated to gunfire and a June 12 attack where more than 20 shots left a man critically wounded. Hoodline covered both incidents; see the May 17 fight and the June 12 case. Citywide, Axios Philadelphia has reported that homicides have trended downward in recent years even as gun violence remains concentrated on certain blocks, and community groups say quick tips and shared footage often make the difference in solving these shootings.
