Teen Girl Caught In Gunfire, Critically Injured
By Pat Loeb, Steve Patterson
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Philadelphia police say a 13-year-old was critically wounded late Friday night when she was caught in the cross fire of a shoot out.
It happened around 11:30 p.m. on the 3500 block of Stouton Street in the Harrowgate section of the city.
Police say the victim was sitting on her own front steps when two males, with sweatshirt hoods blocking their faces, began firing at each other. She was struck in the side and rushed to Temple Hospital where she is currently in critical, but stable condition.
Authorities say it's amazing no one else was injured as bullets flew everywhere during the shoot out, striking a house and several parked cars.
The victim's aunt, Ada Ortiz, is looking for an explanation for why her niece was hit in the shooting:
"She needs justice, she needs answers."
Police say the victim had no connection to the gunmen.
Ortiz believes someone on the block knows who pulled the trigger that put her niece in the emergency room:
"I'm just hurt for the fact no one is standing up for her."
The teen was simply enjoying a beautiful weekend evening with friends.
"I have all this anger inside of me. I want to scream, I want to do everything for my baby," said Ortiz. "I wish I could take that pain away from her, but I can't."
The search for both suspects continues.