Man shot while in bed with wife after neighbor accidentally fires rifle from unit above

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- A man is fighting for his life following a bizarre shooting on Wednesday in West Philadelphia.

He was shot in the back while lying in bed next to his wife around 1:50 a.m. in the 400 block of North 61st Street.

"When police and medics arrived, they went inside and found a 65-year-old male on the first floor suffering from a gunshot wound to his back," said Chief Inspector Scott Small with the Philadelphia Police Department.

Charles Jiggetts has lived in the area for more than 70 years. "Dubious. I'm wondering what the heck was going on," he said.

He has never heard a story quite like this.

Police say the bullet came through the ceiling of the man's apartment. When investigators went upstairs, they found a 52-year-old man with a rifle.

"Preliminary information is that this was an accidental shooting where the bullet went through the floor of a second-floor apartment and into the first-floor apartment, hitting the 65-year-old who was lying in bed with his wife," said Inspector Small.

"Accidents happen. I don't know why he was cleaning his gun at that time of the morning," said Pasquale Soto, who has lived on the street for more than two decades.

He said there isn't a lot of police activity on his block.

"A lot of West Philly gets a bad wrap, but we don't get a bad wrap around here. This block, we all look out for each other, we all take care of each other," said Soto.

The victim was transported here to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, where he is in critical condition.

The man with the gun, was taken to the police department.

Police are also interviewing two witnesses.

The investigation is now being handled by the District Attorney's office.

It is unknown if the neighbor will be charged.