Police said the boy, identified by KYW-TV as Semaj O'Branty, was injured around 3:15 p.m. Wednesday in an apparent drive-by shooting. The incident happened about two blocks from a middle school, The Associated Press reported.
This is Semaj O’Branty, the 10-year-old hit by a stray bullet in the middle of a shootout. He was outside waiting for his mother who was inside a corner store in Frankford. He’s in critical but stable condition. Doctors believe he will survive. Live update on @CBSPhilly at 11 p.m pic.twitter.com/6o4HNuXFaa
— Kimberly Davis CBS3 (@KimberlyDavisTV) November 7, 2019
Police said the shooter was in a red Pontiac G6 and opened fire in Semaj's direction. He was shot in the back of the head, authorities said.
The shooter was last seen traveling away from the scene in the Pontiac. Police released images of the vehicle Thursday.
Wanted: Suspects for Shooting Incident/Victim in the 15th District https://t.co/2tXwZf2zEJ pic.twitter.com/GSk2sfMSux
— Philadelphia Police (@PhillyPolice) November 7, 2019
Witnesses told KYW-TV they heard as many as 13 shots in quick succession Wednesday afternoon before seeing Semaj on the ground.
"I noticed that the young man had a wound to the neck, on the left side of his neck, so I instinctively just kicked in and grabbed someone's sweatshirt and correctly applied pressure to the area," medical assistant and witness Jahaira Cruz told KYW-TV. "As I was doing that, I had already started calling 911."
The news station reported police had a suspect involved in the shooting in custody, but authorities said the man was not suspected of shooting Semaj, but instead fired at the person who injured Semaj.
"He tries to cover the kid and protect the kid," Capt. John Walker told KYW-TV.
Police continue to investigate.
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