This is the dramatic moment bystanders rushed to help eight bloodied high school students who were shot at a Philadelphia bus stop on Wednesday.
The shocking scene was captured on a passerby’s video and shared on social media.
Numerous teenagers could be seen on the ground as bystanders attempted to render aid and others called 911. At least one victim was in critical condition following the shooting.
Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel said the students, ages 15 to 17, were shot after three gunmen exited a vehicle near a Dunkin Donuts and fired more than 30 shots at a SEPTA bus stop around 3 pm.
Authorities are now asking for the public’s help in identifying the suspects in the shooting and released surveillance video of the gunmen getting out of the car before opening fire.
Dramatic bystander video captured the bloody aftermath as schoolchildren are seen on the ground after three gunmen opened fire Wednesday at a Philadelphia SEPTA bus stop.
The suspects are seen pulling out their guns and shooting at innocent people as the bus stopped at Rising Sun and Cottman avenues in Northeast Philadelphia.
Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel said the students, ages 15 to 17, were shot after three gunmen exited a vehicle near a Dunkin Donuts location and fired more than 30 shots.
In a bystander’s video, two or three schoolchildren are seen on the wet ground while people around them panic and try to help. A student, seen in khaki pants and a black zip-up hoodie, grimaces on the ground as he holds his bloody leg.
The video then returns to two other victims, as one of them has blood pooling on the ground from his back.
One victim is reported to be in critical condition and the status of the others is unclear at this time. SEPTA said no injuries were reported to bus employees or passengers.
A video released by Philadelphia police shows a A dark blue Hyundai Elantra pulling into a Dunkin Donuts parking lot. Moments later, three suspects dressed all in black and wearing face masks run out of the car as the driver quickly reverses with the doors still open.
The video then switches to another angle and shows the moment the gunmen pull out their guns and shoot as the bus stops.
The unidentified suspects run back to the car that met them near the bus and quickly flee the scene.
The motive for the shooting has not been revealed.
Police said they located the car that was involved in the shooting and that the paper plates that were originally attached to the vehicle were replaced with temporary plates.
Northeast High School students are seen lying on the ground after being shot at the bus station by unidentified gunmen.
Surveillance footage also captured the moment the suspect drove into the nearby parking lot, ran over and shot innocent bystanders, and fled the scene in a blue Hyundai Elantra.
The transit system said a Route 18 bus and a Route 67 bus were hit by gunfire near the scene of the shooting and have advised people to avoid the area while they investigate the incident.
Wednesday’s shooting is the latest of SEPTA bus shootings in the city in the past four days, as Charles Lawson, chief of SEPTA Transit Police, said his department will take an “aggressive” approach to combating the increase in armed violence and “target all existing criminal codes.
“We’re going to enforce the law and we’re going to do it aggressively, and we’re not going to apologize for it,” Lawson said.
On Tuesday night, another shooting occurred aboard a Route 79 bus near South Broad Street and Snyder Avenue.
Carmelo Drayton, 37, suffered two gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead at Jefferson University Hospital in Center City.
Police said the shooter, who was wearing a black jacket, gray sweatpants and boots, fled the area. No weapons were found at the scene.
On Monday, Dayemen Taylor, 17, was also killed when gunshots were heard near a bus stop near the intersection of Ognotz and Godfrey avenues in Upper North Philadelphia.
Taylor was waiting at the stop after school when at least two people approached him and one opened fire with an automatic weapon, the New York Times reported. Daily News reported.
Four other people were wounded in that shooting, including two women who were on a bus and two teenagers, both 15 years old, who were grazed by bullets.
Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker said: “Over the last two days we have seen 11 minors shot. In the last few days, we have seen senseless acts of gun violence in and around schools, as well as on public transportation.
On Tuesday night, another shooting occurred aboard a Route 79 bus near South Broad Street and Snyder Avenue. Carmelo Drayton, 37, suffered two gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead at the hospital.
On Monday, Dayemen Taylor, 17, was also killed when gunshots were heard near a bus stop near the intersection of Ognotz and Godfrey avenues in Upper North Philadelphia.
On Sunday night, a man was shot and killed after getting off a SEPTA bus near Castor Avenue at Oxford Circle in Northeast Philadelphia.
Authorities identified the man as Sawee Kofa, 27, and said he was shot in the face around 11:25 p.m.
“We use every legal means at our disposal to combat illegal gun ownership on SEPTA,” Lawson said.
‘We are going to attack people who hide their identity. We are going to attack fare evasion. “We are going to focus on open drug use.”
No arrests have been made in connection with any of the shootings, police said.
Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker said: “Over the last two days we have seen 11 minors shot. In the last few days, we have seen senseless acts of gun violence in and around schools, as well as on public transportation .’
“The purpose of being here today is to let everyone know that enough is enough.”
“We are absolutely heartbroken and angry that innocent children walking home from school will be affected by gun violence,” said Philadelphia School District Superintendent Tony Watlington.
Watlington added that trained professionals will be present at the school on Thursday to provide support to staff and students following the terrifying incident.