PHILADELPHIA –
A shooting by several gunmen killed three people and injured at least 11 others in a popular entertainment district in Philadelphia late at night, authorities said.
Police officers patrolled the South Street area in central Philadelphia around 11:30 pm on Saturday when they heard numerous shots. Arriving at the scene, they found several people with gunshot wounds lying on the sidewalk and on the street, and began to provide assistance, said Police Commissioner Daniel Outlow.
Another police officer in charge saw a man on the street corner shoot a gun at a large crowd about half a block away, Outlaw said. The officer pulled out his weapon and fired several shots, and police believe the man was hit before dropping his gun on the sidewalk and fleeing, Outlaw said.
A statement from police said Gregory Jackson, 34, Alexis Quinn, 27, and an unidentified 22-year-old man were killed. Investigators believe one of the three killed was involved in a “physical altercation” with another man and the two began firing at each other, both of whom were hit by gunfire, Outlaw said.
The other two people killed and a number of injured, ranging in age from 17 to 69, are believed to have been innocent bystanders, Outlaw said. She called it a “dark day” for the city, when many people outside, enjoying a beautiful evening, were victims of “horrific and unthinkable actions … in a very popular local and tourist place”.
“It is important that we bring justice to the victims, their families and our community,” she said.
Two pistols were found, including one with an extended magazine, but the chief inspector. Frank Vanore said investigators knew from evidence at the scene that a total of five guns were involved. In addition, police are investigating several other shootings before and after, one fatal, to see if they could be linked.
University Hospital Thomas Jefferson spokesman Damien Woods said 10 patients had come to this particular hospital; three died, six in stable condition and one who was later discharged.
Outlaw said police plan to strengthen resources Sunday night in the area, as well as in the nearby Penn’s Landing area along the Delaware River, which separates Pennsylvania from New Jersey.
South Street is famous for its entertainment and nightlife with many bars, restaurants and businesses. A video of local business surveillance, published by WTXF-TV, shows dozens of people walking on the sidewalks and the street, then fleeing when the shooting broke out. Police are looking for video surveillance footage from companies in the area.
Mayor Jim Kenny called the shooting “beyond devastating.”
“Once again, we see senselessly lost lives and wounded in another horrific, brazen and contemptuous act of gun violence,” he said in a statement Sunday morning. “My heart is with family, friends, relatives of the lost or wounded, and all those affected by this terrible tragedy.”
Kenny said that the increase in gun violence in the city and across the country “makes me not only break my heart, but also get angry.” However, he said the fight against this violence would be a “tough battle” without measures to tackle “the availability and easy access to firearms”.
Eric Walsh, closing the outdoor seating area at a bar next to the block, told The Philadelphia Inquirer that the scene was “chaos”. He said he saw a young woman collapse on the ground in the corner.
“People came out of the street splattering blood on white sneakers, skinned knees and elbows,” Walsh said. “We were literally just piling napkins, getting them wet and handing them out to people.”
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