A three-year-old boy was shot multiple times when gunmen opened fire on 23-year-olds Evan Baylor and Raquane Wright in Philadelphia on June 19, according to 10NBC News Philadelphia.
Video of the shooting shows Wright and Baylor walking to a car with the little boy when two people get out of a white SUV. The two people begin shooting at at the men and toddler as they were about to get into their vehicle. The shooting happened around 2:20 p.m. on the 1600 block of 55th Street. One of the men was the 3-year-old’s father. All three were shot multiple times.
A witness heard the shooting and thought it was a car crash.
Ayanna Williams lives on the same block where the shooting occurred and was surprised to find out a 3-year-old was a victim. She told 6ABC News that she heard a loud noise.
“I heard this big boom, so I’m like, ‘I hope a car didn’t run into nothing,'” said Williams. “I thought I was dreaming…I ran outside, and there were bodies out here.”
Shooting on N. 55th street in W. Philly. Three victims were shot, one of them a child. We are on scene waiting to learn more from police. @NBCPhiladelphia pic.twitter.com/1i37GQOrqM
— Steven Fisher (@Steven_Fisher10) June 19, 2021
Not just a daylight shooting. Not just a toddler was injured but it was on #Junteenth, even. Wtf is wrong with people?
— United ? (@philthadelphian) June 19, 2021
Wright and Baylor were taken to Presbyterian Hospital but were pronounced dead upon their arrival. The toddler is in stable condition and expected to recover from his physical injuries.
Deputy Commissioner Ben Nash described the boy’s injuries.
“The three-year-old suffered injuries to the leg, and he is in stable condition, expected to be released from the hospital,” he said. “He suffered non-life-threatening injuries. We are grateful that the three-year-old is not in worse shape than he is but nonetheless, it’s a devastating situation for any child to be a part of and a witness.”
The gun violence in Philadelphia has gotten out of control. The city is having a deadly 2021, according to NBC Philadelphia. According to the Philadelphia Controller Office, 787 people have been wounded in 2021 and 226 have been killed by firearms.
