Teen suspect in Rittenhouse shooting identified, charged

The young suspect in last week's shooting inside Rittenhouse Square has been identified as Mehdi Fraiji.

He is charged with attempted murder, criminal conspiracy, aggravated assault, robbery, violations of the Uniform Firearms Act, possessing an instrument of crime, and related offenses.

Police on foot patrol say they heard several gunshots coming from the park, last Tuesday, Oct. 18, at about 9:30pm.

"Numerous individuals came running out of the park," according to police.

One led officers to a shooting victim in the middle of the park. The 39-year-old was lying on the ground, and bleeding from his right shoulder and stomach area. He was taken to the hospital in stable condition.

Investigators determined a 17-year-old boy approached two witnesses with at least one other person. They announced a robbery, and the victim tried to stop it.

That's when police say the teen "took the gun from the other male and fired numerous shots at the complainant, striking the complainant multiple times."

Then, the two ran away towards 19th and Walnut streets without taking anything.

The next day, police executed a search warrant at Fraiji's home in the 900 block of S. 15th Street, but he wasn't there.

Saturday at about 4am, he turned himself in.