Police hunt ‘random’ gunman in Upper Darby

UPPER DARBY >> Police are investigating a random shooting early Sunday morning that left a man in stable condition.

Upper Darby Police Superintendent Michael Chitwood said Tuesday that an unknown black male shot a 35-year-old man at point blank range in an alley behind 7026 Terminal Square at approximately 2 a.m. Sunday. Only one shot was fired at the victim, the bullet going through his arm and exiting his body through the back.

“It looks like just a random shooting, but the guy (suspect) looks like he’s just waiting out,” said Chitwood about the shooting.

According to Chitwood, the victim and his girlfriend had left the Sabor Latino bar on Garrett Road and returned to their car in the alley behind the Terminal Square shopping complex. On the way to their car the couple had seen the shooter, described as a tall black male wearing all black and a black backpack, in the alley and walked past him without incident.

In surveillance footage released by police Tuesday morning the woman is seen in the passenger seat with the car door open and the victim standing over his girlfriend. Chitwood said they were looking for something in the car at that time.

Behind their car is a white SUV and the shooter is seen coming out from behind it and approaches the couple at their car. The shooter pulls out a gun and walks closer to the male and shoots him once before fleeing across the nearby SEPTA trolley tracks. The victim was taken to Lankenau Medical Center.

In interviewing the couple Chitwood said there was no confrontation at the bar with any of the patrons and that their testimonies were consistent.

Police are trying to figure out the “why” of the crime.

“We don’t have any cause for the shooting other than it appears to be a random shooting,” said Chitwood. “This is concerning. We’re trying to get the perpetrator, the ‘baddie,’ off the streets.”

Chitwood said it could have been a hit or have been the action of someone with mental illness.

The suspect will answer to criminal attempt homicide charges when captured.

This is still an active investigation. Anyone with information on the shooting are asked to call Upper Darby Police Detectives at 610-734-7693.

SUBMITTED PHOTO Image from surveillance video shows suspect, left, opening fire on a victim on an Upper Darby street early Sunday morning.

SUBMITTED PHOTO Upper Darby police are on the hunt for this suspect in a shooting Sunday morning. He is described as a tall black male wearing all black and wearing a black backpack.