8 Philadelphia teens injured as masked gunmen open fire at bus stop in third shooting in 3 days
Warning: This article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers’ discretion advised.
BURHOLME, PHILADELPHIA: Philadelphia has witnessed a troubling escalation in gun violence, with eight teenagers becoming victims of the latest shootings at a city bus stop.
The alarming incident occurred on Wednesday afternoon, March 6, as a group of students from Northeast High School waited at a SEPTA bus stop in the Burholme neighborhood.
Masked gunmen open fire on teens
Three masked gunmen, emerging from a parked vehicle, ambushed the unsuspecting teens, firing over 30 shots as they rushed to board an arriving bus. Among the victims, a 16-year-old boy sustained nine gunshot wounds and is fighting for his life in critical condition, while the other seven victims, aged between 15 and 17, are reported to be in stable condition.
The assailants, along with the driver of a dark blue Hyundai sedan, fled the scene, prompting a citywide search. Two city buses were also struck by bullets during the chaotic attack, though no passengers or bus drivers were injured, according to ABC.
The horrifying incident follows a night of violence that claimed the life of a man shot dead on a Route 79 bus in south Philadelphia. Additionally, the previous day witnessed a fatal shooting at a different bus stop in the Ogontz neighborhood, where a 17-year-old boy lost his life and four others were injured.
Mayor pledges unyielding action and increased police presence
Another shooting the day before resulted in the fatal shooting of a 27-year-old following an argument on a SEPTA bus in the Oxford Circle neighborhood. Addressing the mounting crisis, Mayor Cherelle Parker expressed her deep concern during a press briefing, declaring, "Enough is enough."
“Every law enforcement partner that we have in the city of Philadelphia is actively engaged and working together to ensure that every resource that is needed is readily available so that the work can be done to solve crimes,” she said.
Parker emphasized the city's commitment to employing "every legal tool in the toolbox" to ensure the safety of residents, stating that they will "not be held hostage" in their homes due to fears of escalating gun violence. As a response to the surge in incidents, police announced the reinforcement of officers on the streets.
“As a result of what we’ve seen over the last few days, we’re going to be ramping up our resources significantly,” Commissioner Kevin Bethel said. “I want parents and families to know that we’re going to be along our corridors across the entire city of Philadelphia until we can figure out exactly what’s going on.”
Amidst the chaos, investigators are probing potential connections between the recent bus stop shooting and a Monday incident in Ogontz that claimed the life of 17-year-old Dayemen Taylor. In that tragic event, two gunmen opened fire on a group of teens waiting for a public bus.
