A fight inside a crowded bar, apparently caused by a purse-snatching, spilled out onto a Philadelphia sidewalk early Tuesday where gunfire rang out, leaving two people shot.
The incident played out at 55 North Bar at 5th Street and Olney Avenue in Philadelphia’s Olney neighborhood around 12:30 a.m. Tuesday.
“The bar was very crowded… it was a holiday night and there was some sort of party going on,” said Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small.
Apparently, a 24-year-old woman swiped a purse inside the bar, which caused a fight that spilled out onto the sidewalk. At some point one, possibly two, guns were pulled out, said police.
The alleged purse-snatcher was shot in her abdomen and thigh and was listed in stable condition at Einstein Medical Center. A bullet also struck a 22-year-old man in chest and left him in surgery at Einstein in critical condition.
Officers quickly arrived on the scene and saw a man fleeing the scene. Officers chased the man – who didn’t have ID on him – about two blocks to the 500 block of Elkins Avenue where they saw the man threw a handgun down onto the road before taking him into custody, said Small.
Police also expected to charge both shooting victims since the woman allegedly took the purse and the man had previous warrants.
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Investigators hoped that surveillance video from inside and outside the bar would help them with their investigation.
