What to Know
- A man was shot in the chest while riding near the back of a SEPTA bus early Thursday.
- The driver stopped the Broad Street Line Nite Owl bus after hearing the gunshot and around 15 passengers darted off the bus near Broad and Chestnut streets, police said.
- Police found blood and bullet evidence during a search of the bus.
Passengers ran off a SEPTA bus after a man was shot while the bus was down South Broad Street near Philadelphia City Hall overnight.
The Broad Street Line Nite Owl bus was heading south toward Chestnut Street in Center City when the driver heard three or four gunshots around 1 a.m., Philadelphia police said.
"The shooting took place inside the bus, the bus driver heard the gunshots... that's why we have blood in the bus, ballistic evidence -- one shell casing and a live magazine clip in the back of the bus," Philadelphia Police chief Inspector Scott Small said.
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After the bus stopped, about 15 people on board ran off the bus -- including the gunman, investigators said.
"Nobody stayed this time to act as a witness," Small said.
The bus driver found the man shot near the back of the bus and called 911, police said.
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The 29-year-old gunshot victim -- who lives just outside the city -- was rushed to the hospital in critical condition, bleeding from his chest, Small and SEPTA said.
The Nite Owl bus takes the place of the Broad Street Line subway during overnight hours when the subway is closed.
Police spent the overnight hours going through each seat looking for evidence. The bus was eventually taken away ahead of the morning rush.
The search for the shooter continued Thursday morning, police hoped that surveillance video on the bus would help them track down the gunman.
There are additional resources for people or communities that have endured gun violence in Philadelphia. Further information can be found here.