Philadelphia police suspect that the mass shooting, which left eight teenagers injured while waiting for a SEPTA bus Wednesday afternoon, may be retaliation for a Monday shooting that resulted in the death of a 17-year-old boy.
Detectives seized a blue 2019 Hyundai Sonata matching the alleged ‘getaway car’ captured on surveillance camera, as the three gunmen are still on the run.
The vehicle was discovered in the city’s Olney neighborhood Wednesday night and was taken to a nearby storage facility, according to police.
Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel said eight students, ages 15 to 17, were shot after three suspects exited the vehicle near a Dunkin Donuts and fired more than 30 shots at the SEPTA bus stop near Rising Avenues. Sun and Cottman.
Investigators are working to determine whether Wednesday’s shooting is related to another shooting on Monday, where Dayemen Taylor, 17, was killed when gunshots were heard near a bus stop near Ognotz and Godfrey avenues in North Philadelphia. .
Philadelphia police suspect that the mass shooting, which left eight teenagers injured while waiting for a SEPTA bus Wednesday afternoon, may be retaliation for a Monday shooting that resulted in the death of a 17-year-old boy.
Detectives seized a blue 2019 Hyundai Sonata matching the alleged ‘getaway car’ captured on surveillance camera, while the three gunmen are still on the run.
The vehicle was discovered in the city’s Olney neighborhood Wednesday night and was taken to a nearby storage unit, according to police.
“At some point, when the bus stops and the children gather to get on the bus, three people exit the vehicle and then get off several times,” Bethel said.
A 16-year-old student is reported to be in critical condition after being shot nine times, and seven other victims, including two 15-year-olds, four 16-year-olds and a 17-year-old, were shot. and wounded.
Six Northeast High School victims are in stable condition, while the other two remain in critical but stable condition, police said.
Holly Castor, who works nearby, told ABC: “I looked and there were four other children lying down.”
“(One of the 16-year-old victims) was shot in the back, in the spine,” Castor said. “I put pressure on him. There was a lady on the phone with 911. As she was sitting, they told her to lie face down so they could stop her bleeding. ‘
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.
In a bystander video shared on social media, two or three schoolchildren are seen on the wet ground as people around them panic and try to help.
One student, seen in khaki pants and a black zip-up hoodie, grimaces on the ground while holding his bloody leg.
The video shows a Dark blue Hyundai Elantra pulling into a Dunkin Donuts parking lot. Moments later, three suspects dressed all in black and wearing face masks exit 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.
Before seizing the “getaway” car, police said the paper plates that were originally attached to the vehicle were replaced with temporary plates.
In a video of a passerby shared on social networks.two or three school children are seen on the wet ground while people around them panic and try to help.
One student, seen in khaki pants and a black zip-up hoodie, grimaces on the ground while holding his bloody leg.
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.
The video shows a dark blue Hyundai Elantra pulling into a Dunkin Donuts parking lot. Moments later, three suspects dressed all in black and wearing face masks exit 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.
“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, Taylor died while 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.
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.
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.
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.
‘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.