Police seek suspects responsible for deadly double shooting in Center City

PHILADELPHIA (WPHL) — A $20,000 reward if offered to anyone who provides information on the two suspects responsible in the deadly double shooting in front of a Center City hookah lounge early Wednesday morning.

Philadelphia police confirmed the victim who was shot and killed was a rideshare driver picking up a passenger who they believe was the target in the attack. 

Around 2 a.m., police said a 22-year-old man exited the Byblos Restaurant Hookah lounge on 18th and Chestnut in Rittenhouse Square. Investigators said surveillance video shows two men pulling up behind the SUV in which the man was getting inside.

Police said the two men ambushed the man and after a physical altercation, four gunshots were fired. Three shots hit the 22-year-old man in the arm, the chest and the stomach. One bullet hit the uber driver in the back of the head. Police the driver was still able to speed away from the hookah lounge, turning on Chestnut Street and traveling about a block before his SUV slammed into a light post, knocking it off its base, then crashing into a tree. 

Bolaji was pronounced dead on the scene while his passenger was rushed to the hospital in critical condition.

According to Action News on PHL17, the family of the victim identified him as Olatunji Bolaji, 77.

In the wake of this deadly shooting rideshare drivers are sending their condolences to the Bolaji family, while hoping to shed light on the risk drivers take every time they accept a ride. 

“We want to stay with them [Bolaji family] and support them in this difficult moment,” said Fabian Romero, a member of the Independent Drivers Guild, who advocates for better safety measures for rideshare drivers. “Nobody sees the things that we [rideshare drivers] live day-by-day, the problems that we face day-by-day.”

Witnesses of the shooting told police that the suspects fled the area in a dark colored Jeep Grand Cherokee with what they believe were Massachusetts license plates.

The Philadelphia Police Homicide Unit is actively investigating the incident. No arrests have been made at this time. Investigators are using surveillance footage from cameras outside of area businesses to help identify the suspects.