The shooting incident in early June that took the lives of three people and injured eleven more is just one example out of many, showing how gun violence continues to be an issue across America.
Multiple Shooters Opened Fire on South Street last Saturday night. Officers in the area heard gunshots and apparently observed “several active shooters shooting into a crowd,” according to Philadelphia Police Inspector D.F. Pace. The usual scene was interrupted when multiple people opened fire near one of Philadelphia’s popular destinations.
In response to the shooting, Commissioner Danielle Outlaw spoke at a news conference on Sunday saying that officers were present when it started and rendered first aid for victims lying in the street or sidewalk.
The police are still investigating the incident, but it appears that five guns were used that night. The three people were killed with one believed to be involved in an altercation that led to the shooting while the other two are speculated to be innocent bystanders. One gunman is said to have been shot and wounded but evaded the police.
The police found two handguns at the scene of this shooting. However, they have not made any arrests so far in connection with it.
“At this point, we don’t know whether or not the altercation that took place was between a group of individuals or if this was tied to another group or affiliation,” said the Commissioner Outlaw. An officer saw a man firing a handgun into the crowd and drew his weapon, firing several times in the direction of another man and possibly striking him.
“The unknown man dropped his handgun on the sidewalk and ran southbound on 600 American street,” she revealed. “The male was then lost in the area.”
The police are still uncertain if they were connected, but the incident was one of several in the area that night.
“Yesterday was a dark day for Philadelphia,” Outlaw said. “And while many of us were out enjoying the beautiful day in the city, a horrendous and unthinkable act happened in a very popular local and tourist hangout.”
The police have asked for assistance from the public in finding whoever is responsible for the crime. They’ve offered a $20,000 reward and are working with other authorities to solve it as quickly as possible.
