PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A teenage boy was killed in Kensington Thursday night while he was riding a motorcycle. Police said around 80 shots were fired.
It happened around 8 p.m. on North Palethorp Street, near Ontario Street. The 17-year-old boy was shot several times. Officers took him to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Investigators sorted through the crime scene and determined at least 81 shots were fired. Officials believe they were from three different guns.
In the search for shooters, police found a black pickup truck matching the description they were given of a possible getaway vehicle. The driver was taken in for questioning, as were a few others who ran from the scene. Authorities did not determine whether or not they had a role in the shooting.
Police then got word that a few people were barricading in a garage in the neighborhood.
“Not only one but two steel gates were rolled down, and it was difficult to get inside,” said Police Inspector D.F. Pace. “SWAT was called and they used specialized equipment to cut into those steel doors to get inside.
“They were eventually able to breach that area. They did not find any suspects in there. However, there was evidence that there were persons that looked like they were probably trying to get out of there in a hurry.”
Those inside were likely able to get out, since the garage was connected to an adjacent rowhome, Pace said.
There have been no arrests in the case. The victim has not been identified. It has yet to be determined if he was one of the shooters, if he was targeted or if he was just a bystander riding through the neighborhood.
To date, there have been 416 homicides in the city this year, according to police data.
Related
