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Teen girl killed, man wounded in shooting near hospital

A 15-year-girl was killed and a 19-year-old man critically wounded by gunfire Monday afternoon on the street in front of Einstein Medical Center in the city's Logan section, police said.

A 15-year-girl was killed and a 19-year-old man critically wounded by gunfire Monday afternoon on the street in front of Einstein Medical Center in the city's Logan section, police said.

What might have been a fight among teens and young adults that started around Broad Street and Olney Avenue turned deadly in the 5400 block of Old York Road, said Chief Inspector Scott Small.

About 4:15 p.m., police received numerous calls of a shooting near where Old York connects with Albert Einstein Drive, Small said.

Responding officers found the girl collapsed under some trees next to a sidewalk and a sign that indicates that Tabor Road is nearby, Small said.

Police took the girl to the hospital's emergency room, where she was pronounced dead from a gunshot wound to her torso, Small said.

Benjamin Foots, 40, a family friend who was at the hospital, said the girl was an innocent bystander and had been shot in the back. He said she attended Delaware Valley Charter High School.

"She was a good kid. Never had any issues, any problems. Came from a very tight-knit family. Very respectful," Foots said.

Two cousins who asked not to be identified said the girl "was a sweetheart. She was very humble."

The 19-year-old was found along Old York and also was rushed by police to the emergency room. He had two gunshot wounds, to his torso and groin.

"He's in bad shape," Small said.

The shooter was described as a teenage male, possibly with tattoos on his neck or chest. He was wearing a dark tank top and dark jogging pants with a red stripe running up each leg.

Small said five shots were fired and no shell casings were immediately located, suggesting that the shooter used a revolver.

Police dogs trained to sniff out ballistics evidence were searching the nearby hospital grounds.

Just before the shooting, police had received calls about a large disorderly crowd at Broad and Olney that was heading south toward the hospital.

"A minute later is when the gunshots rang out," Small said.

He said police did not know what prompted the altercation and the subsequent shooting.

Surveillance video captured some of the shooting and the girl collapsing, Small said. Numerous SEPTA and business cameras were being checked to reconstruct the events.

Small said many witnesses were being questioned. It was possible that the participants had gotten off the subway or buses at the Olney transit hub.

Einstein was placed on lockdown after the shooting, as was nearby Philadelphia High School for Girls. Both precautionary measures were later lifted.