Boy, 10, in critical condition after being shot while walking home from school

PHILADELPHIA — A 10-year-old boy was in critical but stable condition Thursday after he was shot in the head while walking home from school, according to Philadelphia police and news reports.

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Police said the boy, identified by KYW-TV as Semaj O'Branty, was injured around 3:15 p.m. Wednesday in an apparent drive-by shooting. The incident happened about two blocks from a middle school, The Associated Press reported.

Police said the shooter was in a red Pontiac G6 and opened fire in Semaj's direction. He was shot in the back of the head, authorities said.

The shooter was last seen traveling away from the scene in the Pontiac. Police released images of the vehicle Thursday.

Witnesses told KYW-TV they heard as many as 13 shots in quick succession Wednesday afternoon before seeing Semaj on the ground.

"I noticed that the young man had a wound to the neck, on the left side of his neck, so I instinctively just kicked in and grabbed someone's sweatshirt and correctly applied pressure to the area," medical assistant and witness Jahaira Cruz told KYW-TV. "As I was doing that, I had already started calling 911."

The news station reported police had a suspect involved in the shooting in custody, but authorities said the man was not suspected of shooting Semaj, but instead fired at the person who injured Semaj.

"He tries to cover the kid and protect the kid," Capt. John Walker told KYW-TV.

Police continue to investigate.

Cox Media Group