Video shows people running for cover as 4 gunmen fire over 50 shots in deadly Philadelphia triple shooting

Surveillance video obtained by CBS News Philadelphia shows the moments leading up to a deadly shooting that killed one man and injured two others Tuesday afternoon.

A 78-year-old man was killed in the incident, and two other men were wounded as more than 50 shots were fired, Philadelphia Police Department Chief Inspector Scott Small said.

"This is a tragedy," Small said.

The video comes from a surveillance camera attached to a business about 50 feet from where one of the shooters was firing. Several people are seen sitting on the sidewalk when they suddenly look to the right of the frame, and some begin to run for cover. 

During a portion of the video which we have decided not to show, a shooting victim falls onto the sidewalk.

What to know about deadly North Philadelphia triple shooting

The shooting happened around 4:45 p.m. on the 2200 block of Ridge Avenue in a busy area as many people were traveling home during rush hour. 

Small said officers responded to multiple 911 calls about a shooting on the 2200 block of Ridge Avenue and found three men suffering from gunshot wounds. 

A 78-year-old man was shot once in his back, and a 71-year-old man was shot twice in his back, Small said. A 31-year-old man was shot multiple times in his back and lower leg. 

The 78-year-old man was pronounced dead at Temple University Hospital at 5:15 p.m., Small said. The 71-year-old man and 31-year-old man were initially in critical condition but have been upgraded to stable, Small said. The three men were all on the sidewalk when the shooting happened.

Small said police cameras on Ridge Avenue recorded the shooting. 

"As soon as the shots rang off, everybody turned their heads, and then you just see everybody scurrying and stuff like that, trying to just get out the way," witness Billy Walker said. "It was like a constant chaotic moment for a good 15 minutes. Everybody was just like, clear the block, everybody, don't go down there."

The cameras show a silver or light-colored SUV heading south on Ridge Avenue. The vehicle then stopped on the 2200 block of Ridge Avenue, and four gunmen got out of the SUV and began firing shots. 

The four shooters then got back into the SUV and fled south on Ridge Avenue, Small said. More than 50 shots were fired from several different caliber semi-automatic weapons. 

An unattended vehicle and a nearby business were both hit by gunfire, Small said. The glass door at the business is completely shattered. 

Small said police were holding a car on Cecil B. Moore Avenue in connection with the shooting because there appears to be blood in the backseat. 

A motive for the shooting remains unclear at this time, Small said.

Neighbors react to shooting: "It does make me rethink the neighborhood"

Felicia Elliott, who was working nearby at Tang's Halal when the shooting happened, said she initially thought the sound of gunfire was fireworks.

"Once I took a second to really think about what I heard, I realized that it was more than just fireworks," Elliott said.

She said she then saw people running back and forth as others screamed.

The people who typically gather outside the area are mostly older neighbors, Elliott said.

"Outside, enjoying the sun, just relaxing," she said. "Majority of the time when I walk into work, everyone's out there just calm."

Kamiah Hawkins said the 78-year-old victim was a familiar face in the neighborhood. Her mother, Jasmine Pickens, described him as a kind man.

"He was a real nice, kind guy to me," Pickens said. "He would open the door, close the door for me in the stores, say hello, good morning, good afternoon."

Hawkins said she was stunned that gunfire erupted in broad daylight with so many people nearby.

"It's sad," Hawkins said. "That's elderly that be over there. People just doing this in the middle of broad daylight. It's crazy."

The shooting has left some residents questioning the safety of the area.

"It was scary," Elliott said. "It does make me rethink the neighborhood that I work in and whether or not I want to continue to live out here."

Ridge Avenue shooting happened near recent North Philadelphia shootings

Tuesday's shooting on Ridge Avenue happened not far from other shootings in North Philadelphia last week. 

Last Friday, a shooting on the 2100 block of North Gratz Street left a young man injured, police said. Roughly 20 spent shell casings were found at the scene, according to police. 

Fifteen minutes later, another shooting at North 25th and West Elkhart streets wounded a 23-year-old man, police said. 

Last Friday, police said they were looking into whether the shootings were connected. 

Small said Tuesday it's unclear if the Ridge Avenue shooting is connected to Friday's shootings.

"We're always going to look to see if these shootings were related or [if] it may be retaliation for the past shootings, but at this time we don't know," Small said. 

Anyone with information about the shootings is asked to contact the Philadelphia Police Department.