Streets near City Hall still closed after early morning shootout

Updated: 4:14 p.m. Daily News reporter Phil Lucas reports:

At an afternoon news conference, Deputy Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel identified the suspect as Amir Bey, 22, who was still in critical condition at Hahnemann.

Bethel said Bey, who had gone through at least one surgery already, has no prior arrests.

Updated: 1:20 p.m. Streets are now open

The streets around City Hall are still blocked off after police shot a gunman before rush-hour this morning, police said.

The 22-year old gunman began shooting at parked cars and the Masonic Temple on Broad Street near JFK Boulevard across from City Hall around 6:20 a.m., said Police spokesman Lt. Ray Evers.

Police responded to the scene and spotted a man walking back and forth with a revolver, Evers said. The man then pumped two bullets into the Masonic Temple.

Swat negotiators tried talking to him, but "he wasn't making sense," said Evers, adding that he wasn't sure if the man had a mental illness.

"He was not rational obviously, shooting up cars and stuff is not being rational," he said

After the man fired at a parked car several officers had taken cover behind, police returned fire, striking him in the chest and legs. The gunman was rushed to Hahnemann University Hospital where he is in critical condition, Evers said.

Police Internal Affairs is also investigating the shooting which is standard procedure.

North and Southbound lanes to Broad Street from Race to City Hall are blocked off as well as the north side of City Hall. Evers said police hope to open the streets soon.

Police ask that anyone whose vehicle may have been shot during the incident to please call 215-686-3093/4.