Arrest made in Kensington road rage shooting that left bystander critically injured

Innocent bystander in critical condition after road rage shootout

A Kensington neighborhood is reeling after two drivers allegedly got into a shootout feet away from their homes. An innocent bystander who was shot is in critical condition.

PHILADELPHIA - Philadelphia police have arrested and charged a man in a suspected road-rage shooting that left an innocent bystander with critical injuries in the city’s Kensington neighborhood. 

Eric Franklin, 40, has been charged with aggravated assault and related offenses in the incident. 

What we know:

The shooting happened Friday morning, just before 10 a.m. at the intersection of E Street and Indiana Street. 

Officers responded to reports of gunfire in the area and arrived on scene to find a 2014 Nissan Altima with visible damage from gunfire. Franklin, the owner and driver of the vehicle, was at the scene when police arrived. A black firearm was recovered from the driver’s seat of his vehicle, according to police. 

Police say a preliminary investigation indicated that Franklin was involved in a road-rage incident and opened fire on a 29-year-old male driver. That driver then returned fire. 

Eric Franklin, 40 (Philadelphia Police Department)

During that exchange of gunfire, a 27-year-old female bystander was shot in the abdomen. She was taken to Temple University Hospital where she was later placed in critical condition. 

The other driver involved in the shootout was stopped by police shortly after the incident on the 600 block of East Tusculum Street. 

What's next:

Police say both drivers were taken in for questioning following the incident, and Franklin was later charged. 

The investigation is ongoing.