A late Sunday night shootout outside a house party in North Philadelphia left a 19-year-old man dead and sent several teenagers to the hospital, police said. Neighbors described a chaotic scene as rapid gunfire shattered the night and partygoers poured onto the 1700 block of North 16th Street near Temple University.
What Police Say
Officers were called to the block around 11 p.m., and Inspector D.F. Pace said responding units first had to get what he called a "very combative" crowd under control before detectives could start working the scene, according to FOX 29 Philadelphia. Investigators recovered more than two dozen fired shell casings scattered along the street and sidewalk, and several parked cars were hit by bullets.
Hospital Arrivals And Arrests
According to NBC10 Philadelphia, police say a U-Haul van carrying five teenagers pulled up to the gathering and opened fire, triggering an exchange of gunfire that left one teen wounded. The injured 19-year-old and four others — ages 16, 17, 18 and 19 — were driven to Temple University Hospital in the same U-Haul. The wounded teen was pronounced dead shortly after arrival. ShotSpotter equipment picked up roughly 25 to 30 rounds that night, NBC10 reported, and officers said they later took those youths into custody while continuing to look for any additional gunmen.
Part Of A Troubling Pattern
The deadly gunfire marks the latest in a string of late-night, party-related shootings in North Philadelphia that have strained both neighborhood patience and police resources. Just last week, a party on Rising Sun Avenue also ended in bloodshed, as reported in a North Philly party turned deadly. Residents and local officials say they are scrambling for ways to clamp down on illegal gatherings that can turn dangerous in a matter of seconds.
How To Help Investigators
Authorities have not released a motive and say detectives are still piecing together surveillance footage, witness statements and hospital records. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Philadelphia Police Homicide Unit at 215-686-3334 or submit an anonymous tip to 215-686-TIPS (8477), per the Philadelphia Police Department. Investigators are also urging anyone with video from the area to share it with police.
