Philadelphia police are investigating two separate shootings that left two men injured early Thursday.
Officers arriving to investigate gunfire on the 3200 block of Shelborne Street in the city’s Kensington section just before 1 a.m. found a 21-year-old man shot in his back. The victim was taken to Temple University Hospital, where he was listed in critical condition.
Police did not release any additional information on the Kensington shooting.
About an hour later, police were called to the 4800 block of Whitaker Avenue in Feltonville, where a 53-year-old man was shot in his right ear and buttocks.
An investigating officer learned that the victim, a 23-year-old woman and a 45-year-old man were sitting in a car when they were approached by three armed men. One of the men grabbed the woman by her shirt, and the victim defended her before fleeing. As the man ran from the scene, one of the armed men fired three or four shots at him, police said.
The victim was taken to Temple University Hospital for treatment. He is in stable condition, police said.
The 45-year-old man was pistol-whipped in the incident, police said, but neither he nor the woman sustained any injuries.
Police described the suspects as black males between 21 and 25 years old.