An early-morning crash involving an electric bicycle in Philadelphia reportedly became considerably more serious when an argument over possible vehicle damage escalated into a physical fight and a shooting.
Philadelphia police said two men, ages 29 and 33, were injured during the confrontation in South Philadelphia early Sunday morning.
The 29-year-old was found near the scene with injuries to his head. The other man, who police said had crashed the e-bike before the dispute began, wasn’t located until nearly two hours later and several blocks away.
He had been shot in the hip.
After The Crash
Philadelphia police responded to the 1200 block of Mifflin Street at approximately 2:47 a.m. on Aug. 23 following a report of a person with a gun, according to NBC10 Philadelphia.
Police said the preliminary investigation indicates that the 33-year-old man had crashed an electric bicycle near the block.
An argument followed over possible damage to a vehicle.
The dispute then became physical, according to police. During the fight, the 33-year-old was shot once in the left hip, while the 29-year-old suffered injuries to his head.
Police have not publicly identified either man as the person who fired the shot.
Two Locations
When officers initially arrived on Mifflin Street, they found the 29-year-old suffering from multiple abrasions to his head.
He declined medical treatment at the scene but was later taken to a hospital in a private vehicle, where police said he was listed in stable condition.
Police also recovered ballistic evidence while investigating the scene.
The wounded 33-year-old, however, was not found there.
At approximately 4:33 a.m., about an hour and 45 minutes after officers were initially dispatched to Mifflin Street, police located him near the 2000 block of Chestnut Street.
First responders took him to Jefferson Hospital with the gunshot wound to his hip. He was also listed in stable condition.
FOX 29 Philadelphia separately reported the shooting as part of its coverage of several violent incidents in the city over the weekend.
Still Developing
Exactly what happened between the e-bike crash and the gunfire remains under investigation.
Police have said the confrontation began with the crash and an argument over possible vehicle damage, but available information does not establish who fired the gun.
Investigators are working to obtain and review surveillance footage from the area.
The investigation remained active and ongoing Sunday.