4-year-old boy, father shot in South Philadelphia

SOUTH PHILADELPHIA - December 3, 2012 (WPVI) -- A 4-year-old boy and his father are hospitalized after a double shooting in South Philadelphia.

At approximately 7:20 p.m., Philadelphia police and medics were called out to the 2700 block of Daly Terrace in Wilson Park Apartments.

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Investigators say a 30-year-old man, his 4-year-old son and a 9-year-old girl were in a minivan when someone walked up, fired 9 shots, hitting the father and son.

"It's very tragic that two individuals were shot in the van, but the fact that the third occupant, a 9-year-old girl, was not struck is pretty miraculous," Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small said.

Police say the father was shot in the back and grazed in the head while his son suffered a gunshot to the stomach.

Both were transported to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.

The child was then transported to Children's Hospital of Philadelphia in critical, but stable condition.

The father is in stable condition at Penn.

Investigators believe the father was the intended target, but they don't have a motive.

"Everything is very preliminary, however, South Detectives are on location and they are going to question every witness," Small said.

Witnesses say the gunman, who they did not get a good look at, took off running on Vare Avenue.

Investigators say the father who was shot is no stranger to police, but they couldn't comment on his record.

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