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Cops: Shooting of teen a rare case of Center City gun violence

A teen wounded Thursday was the victim of a rare occurrance -- a shooting in Center City, police said.

Shootings in the area –- loaded with office buildings, trendy stores and restaurants -- are so uncommon that a Central Detectives supervisor could not recall the last case of gun violence there.

"It just doesn't happen," he said. "Center City shootings are more rare. Historically, I don't recall as many here as the rest of the area."

The 16-year-old boy was shot once in the left thigh at 6:04 p.m. after an altercation with other teenagers outside an H&M store on Chestnut Street near 16th, police said.

A group of teens hauled their wounded friend into the store Thursday evening after he was shot during one of the busiest times of the day, on a block with plenty of businesses nearby.

"We thought it was a fight," said James Ceravolo, 29, a manager at Subway. He said he could see a group of teenagers rushing into the H&M from where he works across the street. "We saw a bunch of kids and thought they were clowning around."

The incident didn't shock everyone.

"Nothing surprises me anymore," said Sean Doan, who lives and works in the area. Doan was at the H&M moments before the shooting.

Police were interviewing a suspect, a 16-year-old they arrested at 15th and Market streets after the shooting. No charges were filed as of early Friday morning.

The victim, who would not tell police what happened, was in stable condition Thursday night at Hahnemann University Hospital.