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Three people were arrested after 96 shots were fired Tuesday outside the Shepard Recreation Center in West Philly, where children were playing sports inside, police said. Five people, including two teenagers, were injured.
Police said at least two men in a white SUV began opened fire shortly before 7 p.m. near the corner of 57th Street and Haverford Avenue, 6ABC reported. When patrol officers responded, they observed four men get into the SUV, which crashed at the corner of Haverford Avenue and Farson Street a few minutes later.
The men attempted to flee on foot. Three of them were caught. Police were still looking for the other man as of Wednesday morning, FOX29 reported.
The five people who suffered gunshot wounds were between ages 16-25, police said. At the time of the shooting, two of them were on the street and another two were on the sidewalk. The fifth person was described as an innocent bystander who was driving his BMW in the area.
A 16-year-old boy and a 21-year-old man were each shot in the head, police said. They were taken to Penn Presbyterian Hospital where they are listed in critical condition. A 22-year-old man was shot in the hand and two males, ages 17 and 25, suffered graze wounds.
Two of the people struck were licensed firearm holders, but police said it's not clear whether they fired their weapons, CBS News reported.
Police say they recovered multiple weapons at the scene and from the SUV.
"The proliferation of weapons in our communities is a major concern, but that doesn't absolve those who choose to pull the trigger," Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw said in a Twitter thread addressing the incident. "Excellent work from our officers who run towards the danger in these unimaginable situations."
At the time of the shooting, children were inside the rec center practicing basketball, football and cheerleading.
Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call police at (215) 686-TIPS.
Nearly 100 shots fired outside West Philly recreation center
