An investigation is underway after a gunman on a dirt bike shot and killed a man in what police believe was a road rage incident in West Philadelphia Thursday night. It was one of at least nine shootings Thursday in the city that left at least three killed and eight hurt.
The 37-year-old victim was on 52nd Street and Girard Avenue at 6:32 p.m. when a gunman on a dirt bike opened fire. The man was shot twice in the head and once in the chest. He was taken to Presbyterian Hospital where he was pronounced dead a short time later.
No arrests have been made and police have not released a description of any suspects. Police told NBC10 the shooting appeared to have been a road rage incident, but they did not reveal additional details.
The shooting occurred as Philadelphia continues to crack down on ATVs and dirt bikes in city streets.
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Philadelphia’s city council voted last week to classify the ATV and dirt bikes as illegal vehicles.
Over the weekend, a man was gunned down as hundreds of people gathered to watch illegal street racing in the Port Richmond neighborhood, Philadelphia police said.
During a news conference on Monday, Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner urged people not to lump all riders in together, and to take a more nuanced approach, including a designated place for riders to use their vehicles.
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This West Philadelphia killing was part of a violent Thursday in Philadelphia where at least 11 people were wounded in nine shootings. A man in his late 20s was gunned down on the 300 block of South 53rd Street around 8:30 p.m. And, a man in his 20s was killed during a double shooting along the 4800 block of North Franklin Street in the Olney neighborhood.
Police made an arrest in only one of the shootings – that of a man who was shot three times in the face and twice in the right foot on the 2600 block of W. Berks Street in North Philadelphia. That victim was listed in critical condition.
There are additional resources for people or communities that have endured gun violence in Philadelphia. Further information can be found here.
