Peyton Harris, Editor

PHILADELPHIA – Three nurses and a patient at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center were struck by a vehicle in the early morning on Sat., Oct. 12, according to Philadelphia and University of Pennsylvania police. 

Around 4:20 a.m., police said a silver Jeep Cherokee with a driver, two individuals, and an individual with multiple gunshot wounds pulled into Penn Presbyterian’s emergency room. After pleading with hospital staff to treat the injured man (whose identity has yet to be released,) nurses and security staff responded and began to extricate the patient, providing initial first-aid. It was at that point, Philadelphia police’s Deputy Commissioner Frank Vanore said, that Penn Police were notified and began responding to the hospital. 

“At that point, these three males who begged and pleaded for help jumped back in the car and recklessly and intentionally left this parking lot at a high rate of speed and drove right into the three nurses, their own shooting victim, associate, that they brought here, and continued at a high rate of speed away from this area,” Vanore said.

The driver, later identified as 20-year-old Jaadir Goodwyn, as well as the two yet-unknown other individuals, returned to their vehicle and fled, according to police, causing three nurses to suffer injuries, as well as further injuring the incoming patient. Two of the nurses, aged 37 and 51, are reported as being in stable condition, while a 36-year-old nurse is still under critical care and observation. 

The nature of the shooting, having taken place in the nearby 1300-block of Belmont Ave., is still under investigation by police. After fleeing the scene, the Jeep Cherokee was found on Sun., Oct. 13, abandoned in Upper Darby. By Wed., Oct. 16, Goodwyn had surrendered himself at police headquarters with his lawyer, following a press conference where charges against him were announced the day prior.

City and Penn officials were quick to condemn the incident, highlighting the work that medical staff provide to the community. 

“As West Philly’s only adult Level 1 Trauma Center, the nurses and staff at Penn Presbyterian are on the front lines of the gun violence crisis. Every day they come face-to-face with gruesome pain and suffering to care for us during the most traumatic moments of our lives. It is unfathomable to me that someone would drive their car into our neighbors charged with healing,” said Councilmember Jamie Gauthier.

Mayor Cherelle Parker said, “This is totally and completely unacceptable to me and to all of us here in the city of Philadelphia,” while later adding, “Let me be very clear: We are going to end this culture of lawlessness that has been plaguing our city.” 

Charges against Goodwyn were filed by the Philadelphia County District Attorney’s office, ranging from simple assault, reckless endangerment, aggravated assault with a vehicle and fleeing police, among others. Goodwyn is being held on $300,000 bail, with a preliminary hearing scheduled for Nov. 25 at 11:00 a.m in Philadelphia Municipal Court.