In a dramatic late‑night incident on Wednesday, three teenagers were arrested in West Philadelphia after a carjacking that escalated into a pursuit, a collision with a police vehicle, and a gunshot fired at officers.
Incident Overview
The incident unfolded at about 11:35 p.m. when two teens, one carrying a handgun, approached a 66‑year‑old man as he was pumping gas into his Nissan Rouge at a gas station on the 7200 block of Roosevelt Boulevard. The boys were dropped off at the scene by a third individual behind the wheel of a separate vehicle, according to Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small. One of the boys held the victim at gunpoint, went through his pockets and took the car keys. Two of the teens then jumped into the victim’s vehicle and fled the scene, followed by the getaway vehicle that initially dropped them off.
Pursuit and Collision
Police said the victim’s cell phone was left in the vehicle when it was taken. With the help of a victim’s family member, officers were able to track the location of the Nissan Rouge. About 20 minutes later, officers tracked the stolen vehicle to the intersection of Girard and Belmont avenues in West Philadelphia. When officers attempted to stop the vehicle, it sped off, hitting a marked highway patrol vehicle as the driver fled. The pursuit continued until the vehicle stopped near the intersection of Martin Luther King Jr. and Montgomery drives, where three teens allegedly bailed out of the vehicle and fled on foot.
Arrests and Evidence
At that time, a 16‑year‑old boy involved in this incident is believed to have fired a single shot at pursuing officers, according to Small. “As soon as the juvenile exited that vehicle, from the passenger side, that’s where that one shot was fired,” Small said. “No police officers were struck by gunfire. No police vehicles were struck by gunfire.” The boy was apprehended near train tracks in that area and a handgun was recovered. Officers apprehended the other two boys as well, he said. No officers or others were hurt in this incident, and no officers discharged their firearms, according to Small.
Police Statement
Following the teens’ apprehension, Small said that the victim identified the 16‑year‑old as the boy who held him at gunpoint. Small also said that officers recovered a spent shell at the scene and that an investigation into this incident is underway. This is a breaking news story. It will be updated as new information becomes available.
Key Takeaways
- Three teens were arrested after a carjacking, pursuit, collision with a police vehicle, and a gunshot at officers.
- A 16‑year‑old fired a single shot from the passenger side of the vehicle.
- No police officers were struck by gunfire or injured, and no officers discharged firearms.
In summary, the incident involved a late‑night carjacking, a high‑speed pursuit, a collision with a police vehicle, and a single gunshot fired at officers, leading to the apprehension of all three teenagers in West Philadelphia. The investigation remains ongoing.
