A teen girl in a North Philadelphia home was nearly struck by a stray bullet after a man allegedly opened fire at police, prompting the officers to fire back and shoot him.
Police say they responded to a radio call reporting a man who was under the influence of drugs and armed with a gun on the 2200 block of N. Fairhill Street in North Philadelphia shortly before 5 p.m. Monday.
When officers arrived, they found a man who they say was in his late teens to early 20s armed with a gun. Witnesses say police told him to drop the weapon but he opened fire instead.
"That male fired twice at uniformed officers," said Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Carl Holmes. "Uniformed officers returned fire, hitting the male."
Police say they fired back at the man and struck him at least once. The man, who has not yet been identified, was taken to the hospital where he underwent surgery. Officials have not yet revealed his condition.
No officers were injured during the incident.
Stray bullets during the shooting struck the nearby home of Natasha Doheny, who was inside with her four children. One of the bullets struck the side of her house, two struck the second floor and one entered her window and flew over her daughter's head.
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"I was in my mom's room when the bullet came flying in the room," Doheny's daughter, Sierra Harris, told NBC10.
Doheny says the bullet ricocheted and a round brushed the back of her daughter's head.
"It went through the window and into the ceiling and the shell fell above her head," Doheny said.
Harris wasn't hurt though she and her mother remain shaken by the close call.
"It's scary," Harris said. "You never know what's going to happen."
