Eight people were injured Wednesday afternoon in a shootout near a Philadelphia subway station.
The shooting began at approximately 2:50 pm near the SEPTA Olney Transportation Center, the police confirmed, according to several reports.
Witnesses said people in the area spread quickly during the chaotic scene in the Fern Rock section of the city.
The eight victims were aged between 17 and 71. A 17-year-old girl was shot in the right arm, a 21-year-old man was hit in the right leg, a 22-year-old man was shot in the back, a 36-year-old woman was shot in the right thigh, a 48 year old man was grazed in the stomach, a 53 year old man was hit in the right leg, a 70 year old man was shot in the thigh and a 71 year old man was shot once in the stomach and several times on both legs, according to local media.
The 71-year-old man was listed in critical condition by authorities on Wednesday. The other victims were all stable.
A suspect was arrested and two firearms were recovered by officers. Police have not released the suspect’s identity.
The mayor of Philadelphia, Jim Kenney (D), called the shooting “another tragic example of the epidemic of cruel, outrageous and unacceptable armed violence that is threatening the lives and safety of our comrades in Philadelphia”.
“I am beyond disgusted. I refuse to accept this emergency as normal. We must stand up together in a clear and united moral voice against the evil act of violence. People have the right to travel between work and home, and around the city, without fear of being shot and possibly killed by reckless and indiscriminate gunshots, ”said Kenney in a statement.
Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw said officials were still working to determine if there were multiple snipers.
“It’s very brazen,” said Outlaw, ABC News reported. “We were able to put someone in custody as quickly as we did because we had policemen working on another mission. It is not because of our lack of presence here, but I think it is very telling that people willing to get involved in these shootings are getting more and more encouraged, we are here or not. ”
The Hill contacted the Philadelphia Police Department for additional information.