Philadelphia, PA – A carjacking in Northeast Philadelphia escalated into a dangerous police chase and shooting incident Wednesday night, authorities said. The incident involved three teenage suspects, a police vehicle rammed, and a shot fired at officers in Fairmount Park, though no one was injured.
Carjacking at Sunoco Gas Station
The chain of events began shortly after 11 p.m. Wednesday at the Sunoco on Cottman Avenue and Roosevelt Boulevard. Police say a 66-year-old man was pumping gas when three teenagers approached, held him at gunpoint, and stole his Nissan Rogue SUV.
The victim left his phone inside the vehicle, allowing a family member to track the SUV, which helped officers locate it roughly 20 minutes later.
High-Speed Chase Through Philadelphia
Authorities reported that the police pursued the stolen SUV for about one mile, from Belmont and Girard avenues. During the chase, the teen driving rammed a police vehicle but continued fleeing.
The chase then moved along the Schuylkill River to MLK and Montgomery drives, where the teens ultimately abandoned the SUV and ran into the surrounding woods and train tracks.
Shots Fired, Teens Apprehended
During the escape, one of the teens fired a gun at officers, though no one was struck. Law enforcement officials did not return fire, instead pursuing the suspects on foot.
Chief Inspector Scott Small praised officers’ restraint, saying, “Officers showed a lot of restraint because they did not fire a shot. They continued to chase this individual, knowing he was armed with a gun, knowing he just fired a shot.”
Police later captured all three teens, identifying them as:
- One 17-year-old
- Two 16-year-olds (one believed to have fired the shot)
The victim of the carjacking was not injured, though his SUV sustained damage, including a flat front tire and scrapes on the passenger side.
Investigation Ongoing
Authorities continue to investigate the incident, which they described as extremely dangerous due to the combination of an armed carjacking, vehicle ramming, and gunfire in a populated area.
Chief Small noted, “This was a very, very dangerous situation. In addition to the ramming, you have an individual with a gun who fired a shot after committing an armed carjacking.”
How should authorities handle armed teenage suspects in high-risk situations like this? Share your opinions and join the discussion in the comments below.
