Teenager shot in weekend gunfire

A Philadelphia teenager faces multiple surgeries after he suffered multiple gunshot wounds in the crossfire of a shooting outside his Martin Luther King Drive residence in the early morning hours of Sunday, Police Chief Eric Lyons said.

The victim has been identified as 18-year-old Jamerson Coleman, Lyons said. As of Monday Lyons said seven bullets had been removed from Coleman’s body.

“As of today, doctors removed seven bullets from him,” Lyons said. “He’s had surgery and still has a few surgeries to go and a long road of recovery.”

A fundraiser for Coleman has been set up here by Stacy Shields, the Special Education Director at Philadelphia Public Schools.

“The first time I met Jamerson, it was clear he was a remarkable young man,” Shields said “Truly one of the best kids I've ever had the privilege to know.”

Lyons said the investigation is “following up on several leads” as of this morning though they have not identified any suspects at this time.

On Sunday, April 7, at approximately 4:30 a.m. PPD officers were dispatched to the 200 block of MLK Jr. Drive following reports of a male being shot, according to Lyons. 

Upon arrival, officers made contact with Coleman, the male victim, inside the residence who had been shot multiple times in the arm, chest, and leg while he was sleeping in his bedroom. He lived in the residence where the shooting took place along with his parents.

EMS reportedly arrived and transported Coleman to the local hospital. Lyons said Coleman was later flown to The University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson. 

Officers recovered several spent shell casings from outside the residence near the bedroom window where Coleman was asleep and counted over 40 shots being fired into the residence. 

Coleman was not believed to be the target of this attack and authorities believe there were multiple shooters in this incident.

This investigation is ongoing. If you have any information on this case, please contact the Philadelphia Police Department at 601-656-2131 or Crime Stoppers at 1-855-485-TIPS.