Tow truck driver killed, woman hurt in Northeast Philly shooting, police say
Police said they are searching for suspects after a man was killed and a woman was critically injured in a shooting in Northeast Philadelphia on Sunday night.
According to police, the incident occurred at about 7:52 p.m. on Sunday, along the 2100 block of Knorr Avenue, when a grey Honda pulled up alongside a tow truck and shot at the man and woman inside.
Surveillance video obtained by NBC10 shows the Honda slowing down on Bustleton Avenue and then appearing to open fire.
The man killed, identified by police as 25-year-old Aaron Whitfield, of the city’s East Mount Airy neighborhood, was shot in the head and body, officials said.
He was pronounced at the scene, according to police.
Whitfield’s family told NBC10 that they are heartbroken and described him as an upstanding man who was hardworking and loved by many people.
A 21-year-old woman who was in the tow truck at the time suffered a gunshot wound to her leg and police said, she has been hospitalized in stable condition.
Police believe there were possibly two shooters, and that the man was getting out of the tow truck to buy something at a nearby store when the shooting occurred.
“It looks like two persons opened fire on that truck on the passenger side of that truck, striking both occupants,” said Philadelphia Police Inspector DF Pace.
It is not entirely clear what the man was heading toward, but the truck was parked outside Smokers World, police said.
According to police, there were around 15 to 20 spent shell casings recovered at the scene, with at least two of the shots going through a window for the senior living center on the second floor of the building the truck parked in front of.
“There were multiple people inside when those bullets came through those windows,” Pace said. “Fortunately, no one on that floor was injured.”
Rachel Mei, whose parents live in the senior living center, said about 17 seniors were socializing after dinner when the bullets rang out.
“My dad said there were three shots fired shot at the side window of building, and there were holes on the windows,” Mei said. “It’s very dangerous in that area all of the sudden. And I didn’t expect something going on like this. I used to live there. I just worry about the people in and out of the area.”
Police are still looking for the suspects and have not determined a motive, but they believe at least one of the people shot was targeted.
“Clearly, one or both of those individuals inside that vehicle were being targeted by the shooters,” Pace said.
