PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Philadelphia police are saying a man is lucky to be alive after being shot in the face on Thursday night. The bullet hit him in the mouth, investigators say, but it became lodged in his neck, very close to his spine.
It all happened in the Olney section of the city at around 10 p.m. Thursday, according to police reports. Two men robbed the victim of his phone in the area of 5th and Fairhill streets and then shot him in the mouth, Chief Inspector Scott Small said on scene.
Police said the victim was still about to run for help. He fled about a block over to the area of 5th Street and Lindley Avenue to a bar that he knew was open.
Officers called to the scene say the injured man was able to communicate with them.
"He was able to partially talk. So he's really lucky, not only to be alive, but to not be paralyzed and not be severely injured," Small said.
No one has been arrested. Investigators say they will be reviewing available surveillance video in the area.
