Trooper wounded in Center City shootout gets bullet removed

The trooper who took a slug to the shoulder while exchanging gunfire with a suspect during a high speed car chase in Center City Philadelphia two weeks ago finally had the bullet removed.

Trooper Patrick Casey underwent surgery at Hahnemann Hospital to havethe bullet removed Monday, Philly.com reported.

The shooting happened around 9:45 a.m. on Nov. 24in the eastbound lanes of I-676 across from the 22nd Street exit.

A driver fled after a traffic stop, and while Trooper Patrick Casey was in hot pursuit, the suspect fired at Casey before crashing into an empty school bus.

“Upon impact with the school bus, the suspect jumped from the car and continued to fire at Trooper Casey, at which time he [Casey] began to return fire as he was seated in his car,” state police captain JamesRaykovitz.

Casey was hit in the shoulder.

No other injuries were reported during the chase.

The suspect then fled on foot, where he was later apprehended by officers.

Suspect Giovanni Cotto, 17, is charged with attempted murder forthe shooting.