Jorge Rico Rosas, a clerk at the gas station was working inside behind the glass-enclosed counter when he heard the "boom, boom, boom" of gunfire. Seconds later, he said, about seven people, including Blackwell, ran in through the door and took refuge behind an ice cream freezer and soda machine near the front of the store.
"She was really scared," he said. Blackwell was able to walk but was crying, he said. Police and paramedics were on scene in about 10 minutes and tended to the injured politician.
"They quickly took [Blackwell] to the hospital," said Rico Rosas, 43, who has worked at the station for 22 years. He did not see the shooting.
Bail said that Blackwell appeared to be an innocent bystander, but he would not speculate on whether the man was the intended target.
Blackwell and the man were at the gas station separately, Bail said.
State Rep. Thaddeus Kirkland, who represents Chester, said he was told by city officials that Blackwell was caught in a crossfire and that the wounded man may have been involved.
The gunman was described as a black male who fled in a light-colored automobile with no hubcaps, Bail said.
Mohammed Fareed, 56, of Bucks County, was fatally shot during an attempted robbery of the A Plus on Dec. 9. Bail said no one has been arrested in that case.
Kirkland said that city officials will step up precautionary efforts to prevent any further violence related to Friday's shooting.
"People have to understand: This will not be tolerated," Kirkland said.
Contact staff writer Robert Moran at 215-854-5983, or bmoran@phillynews.com, or follow @RobertMoran215 on twitter.
Staff writer Dan Hardy contributed to this article.
