Suspect crashes into SEPTA bus after shootout in West Philadelphia; 1 dead, 1 injured

Philadelphia police are searching for two suspects who crashed into a SEPTA bus after a shootout in West Philadelphia on Wednesday night that left a 36-year-old man dead and another person injured.

Police said the man was inside a candy store in Philadelphia’s Mantua section, playing on a video machine when two suspects tried to rob him.

It happened just after 10 p.m. at 40th and Brown Streets and was all caught on surveillance video.

Investigators say one of the male suspects shot at the victim multiple times before a struggle began between the victim and the suspects.

Police said the victim then pulled out his weapon and shot back.

Investigators found the victim lying face down inside the store with multiple gunshot wounds to the body. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police have not yet identified the victim.

After the shootout, police said the two suspects jumped into a blue Mazda driven by a third person.

“That Mazda is caught by real-time crime cameras traveling westbound on Brown Street, the wrong way,” said Chief Inspector Scott Small.

Police said the car drove around 50 feet before it crashed into a SEPTA bus head-on near 41st and Brown Street.

The three suspects inside the car fled the scene.

Police later found a 17-year-old about half a block away lying on Preston Street with gunshot wounds to his arm and chest.

Investigators believe he was one of the suspects from inside the store.

He was transported to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center in stable condition, where he is in police custody.

Police are still searching for the two suspects who ran from the car.
According to police, the SEPTA bus driver and the eight passengers who were on board were not injured in the crash.

Investigators are working to pull video footage from the inside of the store and real-time crime cameras. Police are also pulling video from the SEPTA bus as it has cameras facing front that point to the street.

Police said at least three shots were fired. One spent shell casing was found inside the store next to the victim’s body, and two other casings were found right outside the store.

Investigators recovered a weapon at the scene.

The investigation is ongoing and a $20,000 reward is being offered for information leading to an arrest.

Tips can be submitted anonymously by calling or texting our PPD’s tip line at 215-686-TIPS (8477).

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