A search is currently in progress in Philadelphia for a suspect believed to be involved in a shooting incident on a city bus that resulted in injuries to four individuals, three of whom are teenagers. The incident took place on a SEPTA bus in the vicinity of the Philadelphia Zoo at approximately 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, turning an otherwise routine bus journey into a crime scene.
The Philadelphia Police Department, in collaboration with SEPTA officials, is investigating the incident that occurred on Route 15 at the intersection of 33rd and Girard. The bus, which was transporting around 30 passengers at the time of the incident, has been evacuated and is currently under examination by investigators. To date, ten shell casings have been discovered on the bus.
Inspector D.F. Pace of the Philadelphia Police Department has confirmed the victims to be three teenage boys, aged between 14 and 16, and a 39-year-old woman. The teenagers sustained injuries to their back, hand, and foot, while the woman was grazed by a bullet. All victims are reported to be in stable condition.
The suspect is described as a man in his 40s, but the motive behind the shooting remains unclear. The incident has left regular bus riders in shock. One such rider, Dasha Zhukova, who uses the bus about six times a week, expressed her disbelief, stating, “You never think about these things happening to you.”
Investigators are currently examining video footage from the bus’s surveillance cameras to reconstruct the events leading up to the shooting. Despite a decrease in shootings and violence in the city this year, Inspector Pace acknowledged the ongoing challenges faced by those affected by gun violence.
Philadelphia police are making every effort to identify the suspect and determine a motive for the shooting. They continue to encourage the public to come forward with any information that might assist in their investigation.