PHILADELPHIA, PA – Authorities are actively searching for a man suspected of shooting four people, including three teenagers, on a crowded bus in Philadelphia. The incident took place near the Philadelphia Zoo, on a SEPTA bus filled with passengers, around 6:30 p.m. Saturday evening.
The Philadelphia Police Department, along with SEPTA officials, is investigating how an ordinary bus ride on Route 15 turned into a crime scene at 33rd and Girard. The bus is now empty, save for investigators combing through evidence, including ten shell casings discovered so far.
Inspector D.F. Pace of the Philadelphia Police Department confirmed the victims include three teenage boys, aged between 14 and 16, and a 39-year-old woman. The teenagers sustained injuries to the back, hand, and foot, while the woman was grazed by a bullet. Fortunately, all victims are reported to be in stable condition.
The alleged shooter is described as a man in his 40s. The motive behind the shooting remains unclear, but authorities have noted that the bus was carrying approximately 30 passengers at the time of the attack.
Dasha Zhukova, a frequent rider of the bus, expressed her disbelief at the violence. “You never think about these things happening to you,” she said, adding that she takes the bus about six times a week.
Investigators are reviewing video footage from the bus’s surveillance cameras to piece together the events leading up to the shooting. Despite a general decrease in shootings and violence in the city this year, Inspector Pace acknowledged the ongoing challenges faced by those affected by gun violence.
As of now, Philadelphia police are working tirelessly to identify the suspect and determine a motive for the shooting. They continue to appeal to the public for any information that might aid in their investigation.