PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Police are investigating the attempted robbery and shooting of a Lyft driver overnight in the Wayne Junction area of North Philadelphia.
Just after 2:30 a.m. Monday, according to a police report, a man driving for Lyft was stopped in his car near the intersection of Wayne Avenue and Apsley Street, when another car with three people inside pulled up. One asked for directions to a nearby gas station.
The 45-year-old Lyft driver gave them directions, and the other driver pulled away and drove off — but circled back two more times.
Police say two men — one carrying a gun — jumped out of the other car, and the pair tried to rob the Lyft driver. He fought back, and the armed suspect fired his weapon, striking the driver once. According to the police, the bullet traveled through the victim's hand and into his chest.
The two men got back into their car and drove off down nearby Berkley Street, police say.
The victim is in critical but stable condition, and investigators are still looking for the three men in the car.
Lyft responded to a request for comment with the following statement: "Safety is fundamental to Lyft, and the incident described is terrifying. We have reached out to the driver to offer our support and stand ready to assist law enforcement with any investigation."
