Driver arrested after crash near Sydenham
Police recovered a firearm and spent casings from the vehicle that struck a patrol car during a Saturday morning pursuit in North Philadelphia.
By Jillian Foster ·
Capt. Shaun Butts announced the arrest of a driver on Saturday morning after his vehicle collided with a police car. The incident occurred near Erie Avenue and Sydenham Street in North Philadelphia. Officers secured the suspect from the Ford SUV and recovered a gun along with multiple bullet casings from the interior.
The events leading to the arrest began shortly before 1:30 a.m. when two witnesses approached patrol officers at the intersection of Broad and Wingohocking streets. The witnesses reported a shooting that took place several blocks away on the 5200 block of North Sydenham Street. They described seeing someone in a Ford SUV pull up to a group of people and fire a weapon without an apparent reason.
Police found a gunshot victim near Broad and Wingohocking who had tried to drive himself to the hospital. The man crashed before reaching medical aid, and officers transported him to Jefferson Einstein Hospital. He was pronounced dead upon arrival. Butts noted that it is not yet clear where the victim was struck.
Investigators observed that the suspect's Ford SUV sustained seven bullet holes, suggesting an exchange of fire during the initial incident. Police believe the driver fired at someone but killed a different individual who was not the intended target. A separate homicide on the 1500 block of West Fisher Avenue is under investigation in connection with the arrested driver.
The suspect was taken into custody after his vehicle struck a police unit near Erie Avenue and Sydenham Street. The collision allowed officers to stop the car and detain the driver. The Ford remains the central piece of evidence in the case, containing the firearm used in the shooting and the shell casings recovered from the scene.
