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Boy, 12, critical after shooting

An apparent dispute was settled with gunfire yesterday afternoon in West Philadelphia, leaving a 12-year-old boy fighting for his life and police combing the area for his teenage attacker.

Police investigate the scene of the shooting on the 6100 block of Spruce Street. The victim was shot inside the white Chevrolet.
Police investigate the scene of the shooting on the 6100 block of Spruce Street. The victim was shot inside the white Chevrolet.Read more

An apparent dispute was settled with gunfire yesterday afternoon in West Philadelphia, leaving a 12-year-old boy fighting for his life and police combing the area for his teenage attacker.

Police and witnesses said the boy was shot shortly before 4 p.m. while sitting in his mother's white Chevrolet Impala waiting for her to pick up his younger sister from the Wilcox Learning Center, at 6101 Spruce St.

The gunman fired five shots from a 9mm pistol into the car, striking the boy in the chest and the hand.

Police did not release the boy's name, but neighbors and other sources identified him as Jerome Sims.

Ingrid Wilcox, a teacher at the center, said the boy's mother "didn't even get inside" the building before shots rang out.

The gunman, Wilcox said, "ran to the car and started shooting."

Wilcox identified the boy's mother as Tamika Sanders.

Deputy Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel said last night that the 12-year-old was the intended victim and his assailant was a 15- or 16-year-old boy who ran off.

Scores of police converged on the area and cordoned off the tree-lined block of brick rowhouses in a search for the shooter, who is believed to live in the neighborhood.

The victim, who neighbors said lived two blocks away on the 6100 block of Pine Street, was taken to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in critical condition. He was undergoing surgery several hours later.

"We're living in difficult times when young men use violence and gunfire to settle scores," Police Commissioner Charles H. Ramsey said after racing to the scene. "The days of using hands have evaporated."

Police did not have a precise motive for the shooting but said the victim had one arrest on his record.

Debra Procter, who works at ASA Technology Training Academy on Spruce, said she ran outside when she heard the shots and saw a woman crying and yelling.

"The mom was screaming, 'They shot my baby! Help me! They shot my baby.' It was heart-wrenching," Procter said. "It's something I never want to hear again."

Lt. John Walker of Southwest Detectives lamented that youngsters now have ready access to guns.

"It's bizarre, but I've seen even younger kids carrying. It's part of the culture. Parents have to step up," he said.

Philadelphia School District spokesman Fernando Gallard could not say last night whether the victim was a student in the district, but he echoed Walker's sentiment.

"We are clearly on the record stating our deep concern about how easily accessible firearms are for anyone in the city, let alone young people and students," Gallard said.

Walker urged anyone with information about the shooting to call 215-686-TIPS.