PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Philadelphia police said three teenagers carjacked a man in the Northeast Wednesday night, fled to West Philly, and shot at officers when they tried to arrest them.
It started shortly after 11 p.m. Police received a report about a carjacking at a gas station in Northeast Philadelphia, on the 7200 block of Roosevelt Boulevard. When they got there, a 66-year-old man told them two teens robbed him of the keys to his Nissan Rogue while he pumped gas. He said one of them pointed a gun at his face.
The two teens fled the gas station in the stolen Nissan, following a car driven by a third teen, who had dropped them off. Eventually, that third teen transferred to the Nissan.
Police were able to quickly locate the vehicle because the man had left his phone in the car, allowing family members to track its location to West Philadelphia.
Police pursued the car and collided with it in Fairmount Park, coming to a stop at MLK Drive and Belmont Avenue, near the Schuylkill River. The teens bailed and one of them — a 16-year-old — fired a single shot at police, officials said. No one was hit.
That teen was arrested on nearby train tracks. The two others, ages 16 and 17, were also arrested after short foot pursuits.
The 66-year-old man identified all three of the teens later at police headquarters, pinpointing the 16-year-old as the one who pointed the gun at him.
“We’re very, very fortunate no police were struck by gunfire,” said Chief Inspector Scott Small. “Police showed a lot of restraint; they did not return fire.”