Teen found shot to death inside Chipotle bathroom on Temple University's campus in North Philadelphia

Tragic Shooting Claims Life of Teen Near Temple University Campus

Philadelphia, PA – January 12, 2026 – A teenage boy was found fatally shot inside the bathroom of a Chipotle restaurant located just off Temple University's main campus in North Philadelphia on Monday evening, marking a somber start to the university's spring semester.

Philadelphia police responded to the Chipotle on the 1100 block of West Montgomery Avenue — near the intersection with 12th Street and across from the Temple University Police headquarters — around 5:15 p.m. after reports of a shooting victim. A restaurant employee discovered the male juvenile, who had been shot in the chest, inside the bathroom. He was pronounced dead at the scene at approximately 5:24 p.m.

The victim has been identified in multiple reports as a 16-year-old boy, though authorities have not officially released his name or confirmed his exact age, referring to him only as a juvenile. Sources indicate the teen is not a Temple University student. Initial reports varied, with some describing the victim as a child or possibly as young as 11, but more detailed accounts from outlets like The Philadelphia Inquirer point to a 16-year-old.

Investigators believe the actual shooting occurred outside the restaurant, with the victim entering the Chipotle afterward before collapsing in the bathroom. A shell casing was reportedly recovered from a nearby trash can, but the precise location and circumstances of the gunfire remain under active investigation by the Philadelphia Police Department's Homicide Unit, with assistance from Temple University Police.

Temple University issued a TU Alert shortly after the incident, urging students, faculty, and staff to avoid the area and exercise caution as a heavy police presence converged on the scene. The university released a statement expressing deep concern over the event, which took place in a commercial space adjacent to campus.

"This is of course deeply upsetting and took place adjacent to our campus in a commercial establishment," university officials said. "We encourage students who are impacted to seek support through Tuttleman Counseling Services."

The shooting unfolded on the first day of the spring 2026 semester, heightening unease among students and community members in an area that sees heavy foot traffic from university students, residents, and visitors. 17GEN4.com