Overview

• Olatunji W. Bolaji, a 77-year-old Uber driver from Norristown, was killed early Wednesday in a shooting targeting his 22-year-old passenger in Center City Philadelphia.
• The incident occurred outside the Byblos Hookah Lounge, where two gunmen opened fire as Bolaji picked up the passenger, who was critically injured in the attack.
• Despite being shot in the head, Bolaji attempted to flee the scene but crashed a block away on Chestnut Street and was pronounced dead at the scene.
• The suspects, believed to have fled in a Jeep SUV with Massachusetts plates, remain unidentified as police continue their investigation and offer a $20,000 reward for information.
• The shooting highlights broader concerns about urban gun violence in Philadelphia, which has seen a rise in homicides and shootings in 2025 compared to the previous year.