PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — The Philadelphia Police Department continues to search for five shooters who ambushed a group of teenagers leaving a football scrimmage at Roxborough High School Tuesday. Nicholas Elizalde, a 14-year-old freshman at Saul High School, was killed in the shooting.
Police recovered a gray SUV suspected to be the getaway vehicle Wednesday night. The SUV had been stolen.
The Roxborough community is holding a vigil Thursday night to remember Elizalde.
There remains a somber feeling in the air outside of Roxborough High School, where a memorial of flowers and candles and more is growing near the school.
Elizalde’s life was cut short Tuesday afternoon when police say five gunmen opened fire after a scrimmage, intending to strike another teen. Investigators say Elizalde was an innocent bystander.
“I saw the boy go down,” Brett Quigley said.
Quigley of Roxborough is a volunteer firefighter and rushed toward the teen.
“I wanted to go over to him and see how I could help,” Quigley said.
Quigley says he immediately carried over water and towels and checked Elizalde’s vitals, but he says it was just too late.
“I’m still kind of stunned from it,” Quigley said. “I can’t imagine what the family is going through.”
Security video shows the five gunmen police are looking for. Officers say they fired more than 60 shots, striking a total of five teens. Four of them are now recovering.
But Quigley wants Elizalde’s family to know he didn’t die alone.
“There was a lot of people around him,” Quigley said. “There was a lot of people who cared a lot about him and hated to see this happen and wanted to help.”
A vigil is being planned for 7 p.m. Thursday at Gorga Park in Roxborough to remember the young life lost.