Three people, including a teenage boy, were wounded by police in a shooting incident that occurred during a crowded end of Ramadan event in Philadelphia. The incident took place near Clara Muhammad Square where approximately 1,000 individuals had gathered.
According to Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel, the gunfire erupted around 2:30 p.m. in the vicinity of North 46th Street and Wyalusing Avenue. Police officers, who were issuing tickets at a nearby gas station, heard approximately 30 shots being fired. Upon investigation, they observed two groups engaging in a shootout. Subsequently, an officer confronted a 15-year-old boy who opened fire. In response, the officer discharged his weapon, injuring the teenager in the shoulder and leg. Two additional individuals were also shot during the chaotic incident.
Authorities reported that a 22-year-old man sustained a gunshot wound to the stomach, while another minor arrived at a nearby hospital with a hand injury caused by a gunshot. Following the shooting, the injured teenager, along with three men and a woman, were taken into custody. Law enforcement officials recovered five firearms from the scene.
Witnesses described the event as a gathering filled with love and positivity, with one individual expressing that it felt like a harmonious atmosphere. Abdallah Legh, the general manager of the Girard Meat Market, recounted hearing several gunshots and providing shelter to a group of children who sought refuge in his store amidst the chaos.
The shooting incident occurred during Eid al-Fitr, a significant three-day holiday that marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadan. In response to the situation, the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) dispatched personnel to support local authorities. U.S. Senator Bob Casey, representing Pennsylvania, acknowledged the incident and urged the public to prioritize safety and cooperate with law enforcement.
