Doctors Remove Bullet from Trooper's Shoulder After I-676 Shooting

PHILADELPHIA (WTXF)- State Trooper Patrick Casey continues to recover from a bullet wound after he was shot during a police chase on the Vine Street Expressway last month. On Monday, doctors removed the bullet from his right shoulder area at Hahnemann Hospital.

Pennsylvania State Police took possession of the evidence and it will processed by the Department's Regional Laboratory, according to authorities. Trooper Casey has been released from the hospital after the procedure Monday.

State Police say Trooper Patrick Casey was being fired at by the 17-year-old driver of the white car who took off after a routine traffic stop gone bad at 76 and University Avenue last month.

Trooper Casey was called as backup. He was shot in the shoulder as he tried to pull the car over on a crowded expressway, according to State Police.

"Trooper Casey's car was rammed by suspect's vehicle at some point the suspect's car became alongside troopers car and the suspect began firing from his car at Trooper Casey," said Troop K Commander Captain James Raykovitz.

The gunman made a run for it, but was quickly arrested by one of the troopers involved in the initial stop, according to authorities.

"Trooper Jeeter was the one who apprehended the suspect after a brief foot pursuit with the apparent help of some undercover Philly PD officers," Commander Captain Raykovitz explained.

State police say they have dashboard camera video of the entire incident.

Giovanni Cotto,17, was charged as an adult with criminal attempt. Police say Cotto was in a car stopped for an expired registration and traded gunfire with police during a chase that ended when his car hit a bus and both burst into flames.

Trooper Casey is from Bucks County. He graduated from the State Police Academy in 2009. He has spent his entire career at the Troop K, Belmont Barracks.