Oct 22, 2013 2 min read

PITTSBURGH (AP) – City police were still trying to sort out a shootout between a jitney driver and his passenger, who was critically wounded in the presence of his 4-year-old son.

The incident happened about 3:30 p.m. Monday and officers had yet to release the names of those involved or file any criminal charges by Tuesday afternoon, said police spokeswoman Diane Richard.

The driver, who police said is licensed to carry a gun, argued with a passenger in the back seat with the 4-year-old. Another male passenger was in the front seat of the jitney. The vehicles are unregulated and illegal to operate in Pittsburgh.

The driver and the backseat passenger got out of the car and exchanged gunfire, with bullets hitting the jitney. The driver also shot the other passenger, who police identified only as a 22-year-old man, at least once, police said.

Lt. Dan Herrmann said one bullet passed through the rear window, near where the child was sitting.

“You got three bullet holes in the car and a baby and another passenger inside,” Herrmann said. “Luck was on their side.”

Investigators haven’t said if they know why the men were arguing.

The 4-year-old’s father underwent emergency surgery and remained in critical condition at UPMC-Mercy hospital. He ran away after being wounded, and was found a short distance later after throwing his gun into the weeds, police said.

The jitney driver called police and stayed with the child and the other passenger until police arrived. The child was reunited with his mother, police said.

The Allegheny County district attorney’s office was reviewing the shooting with police to determine whether the jitney driver was justified.