At least seven people, including a two-year-old and eleven-year-old child, were injured in West Philadelphia after a shotgun-wielding attacker fired into a street picnic, local police said. The children were hospitalized in critical condition.
The report comes almost simultaneously with news from a block party in Detroit, where one person was killed and 9 injured in a shooting on the same Saturday evening.
BREAKING NEWS - ANOTHER MASS SHOOTING: Man opens fire in West Philadelphia, at least 7 shot. http://t.co/eAhs3iUtJtpic.twitter.com/unilkcGiiq
— Breaking News Feed (@PzFeed) June 21, 2015
It was not immediately clear why the West Philadelphia shooter
targeted the block party on Ogden Street, according to local
police.
“It looks like they just randomly fired down the street and hit
anyone in their way,” NBC 10 Philadelphia quoted
Philadelphia Police Lt. John Walker.
The agency added that a shotgun was used to fire at the victims,
which included children.
#Police investigate shooting on Ogden street in W. #Philly. 7 people, including 2 children reported #shot. pic.twitter.com/rCfyxmRTP5
— Bryan Woolston (@woolstonphoto) June 21, 2015
An 18-month-old girl was rushed to Philadelphia’s Children’s
Hospital with a neck wound, while another girl, aged 11, was
struck in the knee, and a boy, aged 13, took a shot to the
shoulder.
Hospitalized in critical condition, the children were all listed
as stable, according to the latest update by CBS Philly.
Police later listed the ages of the rest of the victims as 22,
26, 26 and 46. The 26-year-old, a man, was shot multiple times
and his condition was unknown.
Gunman sought in deadly shooting in Northeast Philly: http://t.co/DLJ3szEH51pic.twitter.com/aTTrrzWhxS
— NBC10 Philadelphia (@NBCPhiladelphia) June 20, 2015
No arrests have yet been made in connection with the shooting, but investigators believe the gunman was not attending the party at any time during the night.
Police officers described the crime scene as extremely chaotic and a “terrible situation,” with people frantically trying to help the injured baby girl as heavy rain began to pour.