A Philadelphia Uber driver is recovering from serious injuries after police say she was shot during an attempted robbery while waiting to pick up a passenger. Authorities are continuing to search for two masked suspects believed to be responsible for the attack.
According to the Philadelphia Police Department, the shooting happened on June 20 in the 2800 block of Poplar Street in Philadelphia.
The victim, identified through a GoFundMe campaign as Danielle A., was working as an Uber driver and had arrived at a scheduled pickup location when the incident unfolded.
Speaking to local television station WPVI, Danielle said someone suddenly tapped on the driver’s side window of her vehicle.
When she looked over, she said she found herself face-to-face with a man pointing a handgun directly at her.
Fearing for her life, the 38-year-old immediately shifted her vehicle into drive and attempted to escape. Police said one of the suspects fired a shot as she accelerated away, striking her in the shoulder.
Danielle later recalled that after being shot, she struggled to breathe and began coughing up blood as she desperately searched for help.
Despite her injuries, she managed to drive to a nearby intersection, where she stopped outside a local bar.
By chance, a trauma nurse and an emergency medical technician (EMT) were at the location. They immediately began providing emergency care until police officers and paramedics arrived.
Danielle later credited the two medical professionals with saving her life.
The Philadelphia Police Department said officers responded after receiving an emergency call reporting a shooting. Danielle was transported to a nearby hospital, where she was listed in stable condition.
According to her GoFundMe page, the bullet caused extensive injuries, including multiple fractured ribs, a fractured shoulder blade, and a collapsed lung that required emergency chest tubes.
During her hospital stay, she also developed pneumonia, further complicating her recovery.
Doctors reportedly decided that removing the bullet would be more dangerous than leaving it in place, so it remains lodged in her body.
Danielle said her recovery has been slow and difficult. She explained that routine activities such as walking, dressing, showering, reaching for objects, and getting in and out of bed remain painful and challenging.
She is currently undergoing physical therapy to regain her strength while also coping with the emotional impact of surviving the shooting.
Investigators believe the suspects intended to rob Danielle before she managed to drive away.
Police said the two suspects fled west toward 29th Street immediately after the shooting.
Authorities described the suspects as two males in their late teens to early 20s, both with slim builds and wearing all-black clothing and face masks.
No arrests have been announced, and the investigation remains ongoing.
Danielle said driving for Uber is her primary source of income as she raises her 7-year-old daughter as a single mother. In her fundraiser, she said her goal is to fully recover, return to work, and continue providing a stable life for her daughter while rebuilding her physical and emotional health.
