At least eight Philadelphia high school students were shot Wednesday afternoon while waiting for a SEPTA bus in the city’s northeast, leaving one in critical condition.
fox 29 The shooting occurred at a SEPTA bus stop near the intersection of Cottman Street and Rising Sun Street around 3 p.m., according to Philadelphia news reports.
Police Chief Kevin Bethel said several students at Northeast High School were preparing to board a bus when the shooting occurred.
He said surveillance camera footage showed three people getting out of a parked vehicle opposite the bus stop and then opening fire on the students.
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Eight high school students were shot while riding a SEPTA bus in Philadelphia on Wednesday. (FOX 29 Philadelphia)
The gunmen fired at least 30 shots, striking eight students.
The news station reported that all of the victims were between the ages of 15 and 17, and one student was shot multiple times and taken to an area hospital in critical condition.
“It’s hard to sit here and watch three days later 11 boys walking to and from school were shot and killed,” Bethel told reporters after the shooting. “The despicable acts we have seen over the past three days are unacceptable.”
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Eight high school students were shot while riding a SEPTA bus in Philadelphia on Wednesday. (FOX 29 Philadelphia)
Wednesday’s shooting is the latest in a series of violent crimes occurring at, near, and even on SEPTA bus stops.
Bethel said the violence is a “downstream effect” of local leaders’ failure to address gun violence.
Philadelphia Mayor Sherrell Parker told reporters that city officials will take steps to combat the growing violence.
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Eight high school students were shot while riding a SEPTA bus in Philadelphia on Wednesday. (FOX 29 Philadelphia)
“Our purpose here today is to tell you that enough is enough,” Parker said. “All of our law enforcement partners here in the City of Philadelphia are actively engaged and working together to ensure that all necessary resources are readily available to solve crimes.”
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The mayor also said it is “very” important to her that everyone in the city knows they are not held hostage, and that the city is available to ensure the public health and safety of Philadelphians. He added that he would use all legal means possible.
In another incident Sunday night, a 27-year-old man was shot and killed after getting off a SEPTA bus at Oxford Circle.
