A 23-year-old man was hospitalized after being shot during a gunpoint robbery in the Castor Gardens section of Northeast Philadelphia early Tuesday morning. The incident occurred just before 1 a.m. on the 2100 block of Knorr Street, shortly after the man parked his car while visiting a friend’s house.
Philadelphia Police Department officers were dispatched to the scene around 12:45 a.m. to 1 a.m. after receiving reports of a shooting. When officers arrived, they found the victim suffering from a gunshot wound to his right leg below the knee. He reported that he had been approached and robbed moments after stepping out of his vehicle.
Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small said the victim had just exited his parked car when two men approached him. Both suspects were wearing gray hooded sweatshirts, and one of them produced a firearm. The men demanded the victim’s valuables and took his Rolex watch. Police said the suspects also ripped chains from the victim’s neck and stole an unknown amount of cash.
After the jewelry had been taken, one of the suspects fired a single shot, striking the victim in the leg. Investigators recovered one spent shell casing from the ground near where the shooting occurred. The injured man was transported by medics to Jefferson Torresdale Hospital, where he was listed in stable condition with non-life-threatening injuries.
Police said the two suspects fled the scene in a gray or silver four-door sedan, possibly a Nissan, with dark-tinted windows. The vehicle was last seen traveling toward Bustleton Avenue. Investigators believe the incident may have been captured on nearby surveillance cameras and are reviewing footage from the area as part of the ongoing investigation.
Chief Inspector Small stated that detectives are examining whether the robbery and shooting may be connected to recent muggings reported in the area. The Philadelphia Police Department is asking anyone with information related to the incident or the suspects to call or text the department’s tip line at 215-686-TIPS (8477). Tips can be submitted anonymously.
