At least eight high school students, aged between 15 and 17, were injured in a shooting carried out by unknown assailants while they were waiting for a bus in Northeast Philadelphia.
One of the injured students suffered serious injuries and is in critical condition at a local hospital as of Wednesday afternoon.
FOX 29 Philadelphia reported that the shooting occurred around 3:00 PM when some students from Northeast High School were about to board their bus, according to Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel.
Surveillance footage showed three individuals exiting a parked car across the street and opening fire on the students, discharging over 30 rounds.
The news station noted that the victims’ ages ranged from 15 to 17 years, with one of them being critically wounded after being struck by multiple bullets.
Commissioner Bethel expressed his dismay to reporters post-shooting, saying, “It is hard to sit here and see, in three days, 11 juveniles shot, who were coming and going from school.”
Wednesday’s shooting is the latest in a series of violent crimes occurring at or near SEPTA bus stations, or even on the buses themselves.
Police Commissioner attributed the surge in violence to local leaders’ failure to address the issue of gun violence.
Philadelphia Mayor Sheryl Parker promised reporters that city officials will take action to combat the rising violence.
