PHILADELPHIA, PA – A disturbing shooting in Northeast Philadelphia left eight teenagers injured on Wednesday afternoon, one critically, while they were about to board a bus. Policemen report that the teens, aged between 15 and 17, became targets of a shooting spree that saw over 30 rounds being fired.
According to Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel, the shooting occurred close to a Dunkin’ shop at around 3 p.m. The assault was launched from a parked car by three individuals, who are yet to be apprehended.
A press conference held in the wake of the incident saw Bethel drawing attention to the increasing incidents of school-related shootings involving juveniles. Bethel detailed a chilling account of 11 juveniles having been shot within just three days, all when in transit for school.
Bethel made reference to a shooting on Monday at a bus stop of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), where a 17-year-old boy was fatally shot, and four others injured. This incident marks one of the four shootings involving SEPTA buses this past week alone. Of these, three shootings have ended in fatalities.
A representative from SEPTA stated that bullets hit two buses during Wednesday’s shooting. However, no casualties were reported among the passengers or SEPTA employees. Among the victims was a 16-year-old boy. The teen remains in critical condition after being shot nine times in the torso, while the other six boys and one girl have been reported as stable.
In an effort to combat this worrying surge in gun violence, additional resources will be deployed across Philadelphia, as per Bethel. Investigators are also exploring the possibility of a link between the incidents on Monday and Wednesday.