(DailyChive.com) – Gunfire erupted near an Eid al-Fitr celebration in Philadelphia on Wednesday, April 10, injuring three people and sending hundreds fleeing for cover. The shooting occurred around 2:30 pm in Clara Muhammad Square, where approximately 1,000 people had gathered. Officers on patrol near a gas station heard around 30 gunshots and witnessed two groups exchanging fire.
In a swift response, one officer confronted a 15-year-old boy armed with a gun. The teenager fired at the officer, who then fired back, injuring the suspect in the shoulder and leg. The officer then transported the wounded teen to the hospital, where he was confirmed to be in stable condition and subsequently arrested.
The crossfire left two other individuals injured. A 22-year-old man sustained a gunshot wound to the stomach, while a 15-year-old boy was shot in the finger. Both are thankfully in stable condition.
Five individuals, including the injured teenage suspect, were apprehended by police. Authorities also recovered five weapons from the scene. Police placed the officer involved in the shooting on administrative duty while an investigation unfolded.
Amidst the police response, a separate incident occurred when a patrol car accidentally struck a 15-year-old girl, fracturing her leg. Commissioner Bethel expressed his sincere apologies to the child’s family, emphasizing that such an outcome was never intended.
This sudden pocket of violence has unfortunately put a dent in the celebratory atmosphere of Eid al-Fitr. Local businesses, like the Girard Meat Market, reported witnessing terrified attendees seeking refuge within their stores.
Abdallah Legh, the market’s general manager, described the frantic scene, stating that everybody was running.
Pennsylvania’s Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro took to X (formerly Twitter), expressing his grief for the disrupted celebration and offering support to the Muslim community.
Federal law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and ATF, have deployed personnel to assist local authorities in their investigation.
U.S. Senator Bob Casey, alongside the Philadelphia chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), also expressed their concern and pledged support for a thorough investigation and ongoing efforts to curb gun violence within the city.
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