Local
Fatal Shooting in North Philadelphia May Be Tied to Road Rage, Police Say
A man was killed early Saturday after being shot in what investigators suspect was a road rage incident near Broad and Erie streets. Police pursued two vehicles and later arrested the driver of a Ford SUV, recovering a gun and shell casings.
PHILADELPHIA â A man is dead after a shooting in North Philadelphia that police believe may have been sparked by road rage early Saturday morning.
Officers on patrol near Broad and Erie streets saw someone inside a Ford SUV firing at a Dodge Ram just before 1:30 a.m., according to police. The officers began pursuing both vehicles.
During the investigation, a third vehicle, a GMC Yukon, crashed at Germantown Avenue and Tioga Street. When officers stopped to check on the driver, they found he had been shot. The victim was taken to a hospital, where he died. His name has not been released.
Police later caught up with the Ford SUV near Erie Avenue and Sydenham Street. Investigators said they recovered a gun and shell casings from the vehicle. The driver of the SUV was taken into custody. Two people inside the Dodge Ram were not injured.
Authorities have not said whether the victim in the GMC Yukon was involved in the initial dispute or was a bystander. Police are continuing to investigate the circumstances leading up to the shooting and whether road rage played a role.
The shooting adds to a grim toll of gun violence in Philadelphia, where residents and community groups have long called for stronger measures to curb shootings and address the underlying causes of violence. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Philadelphia Police Department.