The Bobster
Senior News Editor since 2004
Shooting at Ramadan event in West Philadelphia leaves 3 injured, 5 in custody, police say
Three people were shot at the end of a Ramadan event with around 1,000 people in attendance in West Philadelphia's Parkside section Wednesday afternoon, according to police.
www.cbsnews.com
Shooting at Ramadan event in West Philadelphia leaves 3 injured, 5 in custody, police say
By Tom Dougherty, Stephanie Ballesteros, Kerri Corrado, Taleisha Newbill, Raymond Strickland, Aziza Shuler, Laura Fay, Tom Ignudo
Updated on: April 10, 2024 / 8:53 PM EDT / CBS Philadelphia
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Three people were shot during a Ramadan event in West Philadelphia's Parkside section Wednesday afternoon, police said. It happened at 47th Street and Girard Avenue at around 2:30 p.m. after gunfire erupted between two groups.
Police said around 1,000 people were in attendance for the event celebrating Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan.
"In the midst of Eid al-Fitr, a Holy Day of celebration, our city's Muslim community experienced a sacrilegious act of gun violence today in a West Philadelphia park. Every community of faith has the absolute right and need to worship in peace," Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker wrote on X. "We stand united with the Muslim community, and vow to work together to restore balance and light to our communities."
Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel said five people are in custody, including an armed 15-year-old boy, who was shot by responding officers. The other four suspects in custody are three males and one female, police said.
The teen was shot by police in the left arm and leg and was taken to Presbyterian Hospital.
A 22-year-old man and a 15-year-old boy were also injured in the shooting, police said. The 22-year-old was shot in the stomach, while the 15-year-old was struck in the ring finger. Both the 22-year-old and 15-year-old were placed in stable condition. The 22-year-old was taken to Presbyterian and the 15-year-old was taken to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, police said.
Five guns were recovered from the scene of the shooting, Bethel said.
The officer who shot the 15-year-old was placed on administrative duty pending the outcome of the investigation.
A 15-year-old girl in the area of the shooting was struck by a police car responding to the scene and suffered a fractured leg, Bethel said. She was taken to CHOP and placed in stable condition, police said.
The FBI is assisting the Philadelphia Police Department and other local partners in the investigation, a spokesperson said. The ATF Philadelphia Field Division also assisted at the scene of the shooting.
Two U.S. officials confirmed to CBS News the shooting does not appear to be an ideologically driven or targeted attack. The shooting happened in the area of the Philadelphia Masjid, a mosque located on the 4700 block of Wyalusing Avenue.
As Bethel noted, the initial findings point to an armed skirmish between four to five individuals.
Bethel told CBS News Philadelphia public schools were closed for the Eid al-Fitr holiday and plenty of children were at the event.
"The schools are closed today," Bethel said. "There is a school in the backdrop, as well as the church here, but there is no school today. The schools were closed because of the celebration today and and holiday. We're fortunate also at this time period to not have any kids out here."
Sen. Bob "Empty Suit" Casey posted on X that his office has been in touch with local officials about the shooting.
