According to authorities, three people were shot on Wednesday afternoon at a Ramadan celebration in the Parkside neighborhood of West Philadelphia. Gunfire broke out between two groups at around 2:30 p.m. between 47th Street and Wyalusing Avenue.
About a thousand people attended the celebration of Eid al-Fitr, which commemorates the conclusion of Ramadan, according to the police.
“Today, in the middle of Eid al-Fitr, a Holy Day of joy, a sacrilegious act of gun violence occurred in a park located in West Philadelphia, affecting the Muslim population in our city. Every religious group has the unalienable right and obligation to practice their religion in peace, Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker stated on X. “We stand united with the Muslim community, and vow to work together to restore balance and light to our communities.”
Five people are being held, according to Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel. Among them is a 15-year-old youngster with an armament who was shot by responding cops. Three men and one woman make up the other four suspects in detention, according to the police.
After being shot in the left arm and leg by the police, the teenager was transported to Presbyterian Hospital.
According to authorities, the gunfire also injured a 15-year-old kid and a 22-year-old male. The 15-year-old was hit in the ring finger, while the 22-year-old was shot in the stomach. The 15- and 22-year-olds were both given stable conditions. According to authorities, the 15-year-old was brought to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, while the 22-year-old was taken to Presbyterian.
According to Bethel, five firearms were found at the shooting scene.
The 15-year-old was shot by an officer who was put on administrative duty while the inquiry was ongoing.
According to Bethel, a 15-year-old girl who was near the gunshot was hit by a police car that was responding to the site and had a shattered leg. According to investigators, she was brought to CHOP and given a stable condition.
According to a spokeswoman, the FBI is supporting the Philadelphia Police Department and other regional partners in their investigation. At the scene of the incident, the ATF Philadelphia Field Division also provided assistance.
According to two U.S. officials who spoke with CBS News, the shooting does not seem to have been a targeted or ideologically motivated incident. The Philadelphia Masjid, a mosque situated on the 4700 block of Wyalusing Avenue, was the scene of the shooting.
As Bethel pointed out, preliminary evidence suggests an armed altercation involving four to five people.
Bethel informed CBS News For the Eid al-Fitr holiday, Philadelphia public schools were closed, and a large number of kids attended the celebration.
“Today is a closed school day,” stated Bethel. “The church and school are in the background, but the school is closed today. Due to today’s vacation and celebration, the schools were closed. We’re also lucky that there aren’t any children living here at the moment.”
Sen. Bob Casey stated on X that local authorities had been contacted by his office on the shooting.
Regarding the shooting during an Eid al-Fitr celebration in Philadelphia, my office has communicated with local authorities. I want everyone to exercise caution and pay attention to law enforcement as we obtain more information,” he said on X.
Pennsylvania State Police have contacted Philadelphia police, according to a tweet made by Governor Josh Shapiro on X, and he has extended his “full support” for the shooting.
“Eid should always be a time of joy for our Muslim neighbors, and I grieve for every member of the Philadelphia Muslim community whose celebration was shattered by gun violence today,” Shapiro said in part.
Although there were no fatalities from the gunfire, Bethel stated that, because of the severity of the event, the police department is collaborating with their homicide section.