Teen bystander dies after Philadelphia playground shooting

NBC Philadelphia - A 17-year-old student died after being shot at a playground on Thursday across the street from his Philadelphia high school.

carrieheals

Apr 12, 2013

NBC Philadelphia – A 17-year-old student died after being shot at a playground on Thursday across the street from his Philadelphia high school.

Bernard Scott was an Overbrook High School student. Police say he was an innocent bystander of the shooting. Another 17-year-old, who was not immediately identified, remained in critical condition Thursday night.

Police tell NBC10 that this all began as a fight between a group of teenagers around 3:45 p.m. at the Tustin Playground at N 60th Street and Lancaster Avenue. Witnesses say two people pulled out guns and started shooting.

NBC10’s Chris Cato talked with the Good Samaritan who found Scott in a blood-covered shirt, collapsed on the curb. Antoine Gardiner says he called 911 first, then rushed the teen to Lankenau Medical Center in his truck and wheeled him into the emergency room.

“I’m just talking to him, trying to keep him awake. I’m gonna get you to the hospital, just take it easy,” said Gardiner, who didn’t hear that Scott died until NBC10’s Cato shared the sad news.

“Whew. Man. My heart just goes out to the family, I just wish I could have done a little more than what I did,” said Gardiner.

Police say a third teen who was shot is one of the suspected gunmen. After being treated at the hospital, the 19-year-old will be taken into police custody.

The second gunman is 20 years old, police say, and they credit an eyewitness for helping identify him as the shooter.

Sharletta Ambey tells NBC10’s Nefertiti Jaquez after witnessing the shooting, she watched as the gunman took off running. Ambey says she went speeding after him in her car.

“I proceeded to follow him, and as I got across Jefferson and I said to him, ‘Why don’t you stand right there and give yourself up.’ He told me to mind my business before I got shot,” said Ambey. She was able to flag down a police officer and point him out.

School officials say it happened as members of Overbrook’s baseball team were practicing on a nearby field and that players ran for cover. Some students were inside for after-school programs and the building was locked down until 5 p.m.

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