NEW DELHI: Seven people sustained injuries on Wednesday in a shooting incident involving a Philadelphia city bus, marking the fourth occurrence of gunfire within the transit system in the past four days. The incident transpired in the afternoon in a northeastern neighborhood, as confirmed by the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA).
According to John Golden, a spokesperson for SEPTA, those injured were individuals on the street, and they were subsequently transported to Einstein Medical Center and Jefferson Torresdale Hospital. Although two buses, a Route 18 bus and a Route 67 bus, were struck by gunfire, there were no reported injuries among the passengers or the driver.
Officer Tanya Little, a police spokesperson, said that numerous 911 calls were received just before 3 pm, and upon arrival, law enforcement discovered seven individuals with gunshot wounds.
This recent shooting follows a series of incidents in the preceding three days, during which fatal shootings occurred while individuals were on, entering or leaving SEPTA buses.
On Tuesday, a verbal altercation escalated into a physical fight, leading to gunfire. One of the two passengers involved exited the bus, fired two shots from a 9 mm handgun, hitting 37-year-old Carmelo Drayton, who later succumbed to his injuries at a hospital. The shooter, wearing a prohibited mask, fled the scene, with authorities investigating the motive.
Monday witnessed the death of a 17-year-old student and injuries to four others at a bus stop, including two women riding on a bus. Similarly, on Sunday, a 27-year-old man was fatally shot by another passenger shortly after disembarking from a bus following an argument. Motives for these incidents are still under investigation, and no arrests have been made in any of the cases.
Charles Lawson, SEPTA’s chief of transit police, acknowledged a concerning pattern over the past year and a half involving individuals carrying weapons illegally, engaging in disputes, and resorting to gunfire. In response, he emphasized a commitment to aggressive enforcement of laws related to crime, illegal gun possession, concealing identity, fare evasion, and open drug use.
Lawson acknowledged public fears and assured that the over 230 sworn officers are dedicated to combating these challenges.
(With AP inputs)
According to John Golden, a spokesperson for SEPTA, those injured were individuals on the street, and they were subsequently transported to Einstein Medical Center and Jefferson Torresdale Hospital. Although two buses, a Route 18 bus and a Route 67 bus, were struck by gunfire, there were no reported injuries among the passengers or the driver.
Officer Tanya Little, a police spokesperson, said that numerous 911 calls were received just before 3 pm, and upon arrival, law enforcement discovered seven individuals with gunshot wounds.
This recent shooting follows a series of incidents in the preceding three days, during which fatal shootings occurred while individuals were on, entering or leaving SEPTA buses.
On Tuesday, a verbal altercation escalated into a physical fight, leading to gunfire. One of the two passengers involved exited the bus, fired two shots from a 9 mm handgun, hitting 37-year-old Carmelo Drayton, who later succumbed to his injuries at a hospital. The shooter, wearing a prohibited mask, fled the scene, with authorities investigating the motive.
Monday witnessed the death of a 17-year-old student and injuries to four others at a bus stop, including two women riding on a bus. Similarly, on Sunday, a 27-year-old man was fatally shot by another passenger shortly after disembarking from a bus following an argument. Motives for these incidents are still under investigation, and no arrests have been made in any of the cases.
Charles Lawson, SEPTA’s chief of transit police, acknowledged a concerning pattern over the past year and a half involving individuals carrying weapons illegally, engaging in disputes, and resorting to gunfire. In response, he emphasized a commitment to aggressive enforcement of laws related to crime, illegal gun possession, concealing identity, fare evasion, and open drug use.
Lawson acknowledged public fears and assured that the over 230 sworn officers are dedicated to combating these challenges.
(With AP inputs)
