Philadelphia police have arrested two 18-year-old men in connection with last Wednesday’s shooting that injured eight high school students as they prepared to board a SEPTA bus. At least two other suspects are still at large.
The shooting occurred around 3 p.m. Wednesday at a SEPTA bus stop near the intersection of Cottman Avenue and Rising Sun Avenue in the northeastern part of the city.
Several students at Northeast High School were preparing to board a bus when three men with guns got out of a blue Hyundai Sonata, drove toward them and fired approximately 30 shots. He fled the scene. Eight students, including one girl and seven boys between the ages of 15 and 17, were shot multiple times. One of the victims, a 16-year-old boy, was shot nine times in his torso.
Suspects Jamal Tucker and Arneel Baggs, both 18, were arrested as a result of the investigation into the shooting.
Philadelphia police continue investigation into bus stop shooting that injured eight students
Jamal Tucker (left) and Arneel Baggs, both 18, are accused of opening fire at a Philadelphia bus stop, injuring eight high school students. (Philadelphia Police Department)
The two are charged with attempted murder, eight counts of aggravated assault, eight counts of recklessly endangering another person and several other charges for their involvement in the shooting.
Police also identified the victim only by age, saying the 15-year-old male suffered two gunshot wounds to his left arm and one to his upper back. A 15-year-old male was shot once in the hip. The 16-year-old suffered gunshot wounds to his chest, right leg, and right arm. A 16-year-old man was shot nine times in his torso. A 16-year-old woman was shot once in the buttocks and right thigh. A 17-year-old man was shot once in his left leg. A 16-year-old male was shot once in his left leg. The 16-year-old boy was shot once in his upper back.
On Monday, Mayor Sherrell Parker joined Philadelphia Police Chief Kevin Bethel, District Attorney Larry Krasner, and other representatives from the FBI and ATF to announce progress in the investigation.
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On March 6, 2024, eight high school students were shot and killed while riding a SEPTA bus in Philadelphia. (FOX 29 Philadelphia)
“I hear you. I hear you’re afraid and worried about riding SEPTA,” Parker told Philadelphians, adding that their voices are being heard and that the city is no longer affected by such acts of violence. He assured me that it would not be destroyed.
She said cooperation between the police department and all other agencies will remain standard operating procedure as long as violent crimes continue to occur in the city.
Bethel said last Wednesday’s crime was “heinous” and required agencies such as the FBI and ATF to be contacted and the department to conduct “full court reporting” to track down the suspects.
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On March 6, 2024, eight high school students were shot while riding a SEPTA bus in Philadelphia. (FOX 29 Philadelphia)
As a result of the investigation, two stolen vehicles were located, seized and searched for evidence. As a result of the evidence discovered, investigators developed a suspect, and on Friday, police executed search warrants at several locations and Tucker turned himself in.
Police said the investigation did not end there and another suspect emerged, leading to the execution of a search and arrest warrant for Baggs.
Investigators recovered a .40 caliber Glock pistol equipped with a laser and a Glock switch, which allegedly turned the semi-automatic pistol into a fully automatic pistol.
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On March 6, 2024, several Philadelphia high school students were shot while preparing to board a SEPTA bus, leaving one in critical condition. (WTXF)
The gun was examined by the Firearms Identification Unit, and a preliminary investigation determined the gun matched multiple shell casings recovered from the crime scene.
Deputy Chief Frank Vanois told investigators he believes two of the four people in the blue Hyundai were in custody on the day of the shooting, adding that they are not yet in custody.
Vanois said there are other people who could be targeted next, including the suspect and those who aided the suspect.
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District Attorney Larry Krasner said the department, police and other agencies do not intend to stop at just two arrests or just four arrests for this particular crime. Instead, he said everyone involved in the investigation would not be investigated until groups involved in acts of violence, such as the bus stop shooting, were stopped.
Krasner encouraged anyone who may have witnessed the crime to first contact the Philadelphia Police Department and then his office. But for his associates, he had a different message.
“Be smart and turn yourself in,” he said.
