Man shot for watch in West Philly, in stable condition

Cops were investigating a shooting during what they believe was an attempted robbery in West Philadelphia Tuesday night that left a man hospitalized with a gunshot wound to the hand.

The man was at 59th and Ludlow streets shortly before 8 p.m. when, he told police, he was approached by a 6-foot-2, bearded, husky man wearing dark clothing who pointed a gun at him and demanded his watch, Chief Inspector Scott Small said.

The victim told police he refused to give up the watch, so the man shot him once in the left hand before fleeing in an unknown direction.

Small said the 28-year-old victim was taken to Mercy Philadelphia Hospital in a private auto that left the hospital before police arrived.

The victim was initially uncooperative, and no scene with blood or ballistic evidence could be located where he told police he was shot.

Small said investigators also couldn't find any private surveillance cameras in the area.