Accident sparks shooting in Parkside

PARKSIDE – A Chester man was shot after pulling a gun on another city resident following a traffic accident on a busy stretch of Edgmont Avenue Thursday afternoon, according to Police Chief Thomas Murray.

No charges have been filed as a result of the shooting and Murray said police are not releasing either person’s name at this point. Both men have valid concealed carry permits, he added.

Murray said the confrontation began with a minor accident at about 3:45 p.m. when a man he identified as “Subject 1” was parking his car northbound on the 2800 block of Edgmont Avenue. “Subject 2,” also driving northbound, hit the driver’s side door of Subject 1’s car when he opened it, according to Murray.

Subject 2 pulled into the parking lot for ZW Sushi Land at East Chelton Road and walked back to Subject 1’s vehicle, where Murray said some words were exchanged. Subject 2 then returned to his car and began digging around inside, said Murray.

Subject 1 meanwhile followed Subject 2, but did not cross East Chelton Road. Murray said there was some more “animation” between the two.

“At some point, Subject 2 … leaves from the driver’s side of the car, rear-passenger door, turns and starts walking across E. Chelton toward Subject 1,” said Murray. “As he does, he pulls a weapon and brings it up pointing it at Subject 1. When he does that, Subject 1 – who also has a weapon – fires several shots, striking Subject 2, who immediately fell to the ground in the middle of the street.”

Murray said Subject 1 did not appear to have his weapon at the ready when Subject 2 raised his arm. Subject 1 fired several rounds, probably more than five, but Subject 2 did not fire and no one else was hit or injured, Murray said.

There were several witnesses on the scene who described the incident to police – some of whom had come outside following the accident – and police were able to obtain video surveillance from local businesses that corroborated that chain of events, Murray said.

Following the shooting, Murray said Subject 1 headed south on Edgmont Avenue to a Dunkin’ Donuts about a block away. A Pennsylvania State Police trooper who just happened to be nearby arrived on the scene and was pointed in Subject 1’s direction by witnesses, Murray said.

Murray said that when the trooper caught up with Subject 1, the shooter immediately put his hands in the air and told the trooper he had a gun in his waistband. Murray said Subject 1 fully cooperated fully with law enforcement and was placed into custody before being taken to the Parkside Police Department.

The entire incident, from the accident to Subject 1 being placed into custody, took “four minutes, tops,” according to Murray. Officers responded to secure the scene and shut down Edgmont Avenue between West Elbon Road and West Roland Road until about 7:30 p.m., said Murray.

Subject 2 was transported to Crozer-Chester Medical Center with gunshot wounds to the leg and torso, where he remained in recovery Friday. Murray said he did not know about the man’s condition Friday, but was told Thursday night that he would not require surgery.

Both men were interviewed as part of the ongoing investigation, Murray said. When that investigation is complete, information will be provided to the District Attorney’s Office, which will make a determination about what charges, if any, are appropriate to file against either or both men, he said.