Late Monday, a gunman armed with multiple rounds of ammunition opened fire in Philadelphia, resulting in the deaths of at least five people and injuries to two children, according to authorities.
Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw reported that two individuals had been taken into custody in connection with the incident. One is a 40-year-old man, the alleged shooter, whose identity remains undisclosed. The other person, also unidentified, is believed to have grabbed a firearm and retaliated against the suspect.
During a late-night press conference, Commissioner Outlaw commended the swift response of officers, stating that their bravery and quick actions potentially saved additional lives.
The initial reports of gunfire were received by the Philadelphia Police Department around 8:56 p.m. ET, indicating multiple areas were affected within the Kingsessing neighborhood near Chester Street.
Law enforcement arrived at the scene behind Chester Street, where they discovered several gunshot victims, yet to be identified. Among the deceased victims, at least four were male, with three aged between 20 and 59 years old, according to the police.
The two injured victims, a 2-year-old boy and a 13-year-old boy, were transported to the hospital and are currently in stable condition. Following their arrival, officers pursued the suspect on foot and successfully apprehended him in a rear alley of Frazier Street.
The suspect was found wearing a bulletproof vest and carrying an AR-style rifle, a handgun, multiple magazines, and a police scanner. Additionally, another rifle believed to have been used by the second person apprehended was discovered in the same alleyway.
The police stated that the suspect appeared to be shooting indiscriminately, and there is currently no known connection between him and the victims. The investigation into the motive behind the shooting is ongoing.
You can also read: Rudolph “Rudy” Farias has been Miraculously Found
Authorities have been conducting interviews and examining surveillance footage in the area to gather further information about the incident.
