A college basketball player is recovering after he was struck during a double shooting in the Bella Vista section of Philadelphia.
John Davis as well as a 16-year-old boy were on the 900 block of S. 4th Street at 12:30 a.m. Sunday when an unidentified gunman opened fire. The teen boy was struck once in the left thigh while Davis was grazed in the right knee.
“He was outside of his family home when a car drove by and opened fire,” Towson University basketball coach Pat Skerry said in a released statement. “We are extremely thankful that John, and everybody else involved was not seriously harmed. Our main focus right now is on the health of John Davis.”
Both Davis and the teen were taken to the hospital and placed in stable condition. Davis' mother told NBC10 he was released from the hospital Sunday morning but then returned later in the day to have bullet fragments taken out of his knee.
Davis is a senior forward for the Towson University men’s basketball team. He grew up in Philadelphia where he played for Saints John Neumann and Maria Goretti Catholic High School. During his career at Neumann and Goretti he helped lead the team to three consecutive PIAA Class AAA state tournament championships.
"John's a guy that always overachieved," said Carl Arrigale, Davis' high school basketball coach. "He always tried hard. He always played with a great deal of heart."
Davis was back in his hometown Saturday night after Towson University played against the Drexel Dragons. He scored a game high 14 points and grabbed ten rebounds in the Towson victory.
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After the game, Davis visited his family home for a dedication ceremony for his newborn son.
"That's all he talks about," said Arrigale. "How he wants to make his life better so he can make his son's life better. It's just senseless what's going on out here."
Arrigale told NBC10 Davis had just returned to the home when the shooting took place.
"Guys he grew up with and they went out to get something to eat," said Arrigale. "They were hanging out. They just got back and unfortunately he was at the wrong place at the wrong time."
Towson University has not yet revealed whether Davis will be able to return for the few remaining games of the season. He is currently averaging 11.8 points per game and 8.1 rebounds per game.
"It felt good to hear his voice," said Arrigale. "I know he's good. He's in good spirits. Hopefully everything will go well when he goes to see the doctor."
No arrests have been made in the shooting. Police continue to investigate.
