Stray bullet hits woman inside home after group of teens allegedly seen firing guns into air

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- A 26-year-old woman was injured early Friday morning when a stray bullet pierced through the second floor of her North Philadelphia apartment, as police say a group of teenagers fired guns into the air nearby.

The shooting happened around 3 a.m. near the corner of North 8th Street and Susquehanna Avenue, where investigators found more than a dozen spent shell casings. Police believe at least two guns were fired.

A bullet entered the woman's home on the 2200 block of North 8th Street, striking her in the leg as she was getting ready for bed, authorities said. She was taken to a hospital and is recovering.

Neighbors reported waking to the sound of rapid gunfire.

"Pop, pop, pop, pop, pop. It was real loud," one resident said. "It sounded like somebody got hit. I heard the bullet ricochet off of something."

Another neighbor, Matthew Chisom, said the incident shook him. "I'd never want that to happen to me; it could've happened to me, I'm right up the street!" he said.

Captain James Kearney of the Philadelphia Police Shooting Investigation Group said, "These bullets don't stop; they have consequences. They can't control where they go or how they go, and unfortunately, it's very disturbing that you could be getting ready for bed and get struck by a bullet."

Chief Inspector Scott Small said at least one witness reported seeing "a group of about four or five teenagers, males that appeared to be teenagers firing their guns into the air."

Edwin Vega, who lives nearby, said he briefly looked outside when he heard the commotion but quickly retreated indoors.

"That's when I shut the door and went right back in because I didn't wanna get shot or nothing like that by mistake or anything like that," he said.

Vega estimated the teens were "about 16, 17, no older than 17, 18."

"On a Thursday night, they're supposed to be ready for school the next day. I guess their parents don't care," he added.

Kearney said investigators are working to identify those responsible.

"This one affected this woman's life for the rest of her life," he said. "And they have consequences, and now these individuals have to be held accountable for that, and they will."

Police are asking residents in the area to check their cameras and report any information that could help the investigation.