Reports Monday morning that a transgender woman had been shot outside a West Philly bar were inaccurate and based on preliminary information, police said later in the day. The 21-year-old victim, who was shot in the hip around 11 p.m. Sunday,actually identifies as a man, police said.
A police spokeswoman declined to comment on why the victim was originally identified as transgender by the Associated Press. The victim was walking westbound on Landsdowne Avenue after leaving a Stop & Go convenience store when he realized two men who had also been in the store were following him, according to a police report. As the victim neared 66th Street and Landsdowne Avenue, the men opened fire.
“The males approached him. One of the males pulled out a gun and shot at the complainant several times, striking him two times in his right hip,” a police report stated. “The males then fled in an unknown direction.” The victim was taken to Lankenau Hospital. Information about his injuries wasn’t available.
Police are searching for two men, one of whom had tattoos on his face, in connection with the shooting.