PHILADELPHIA, PA - Authorities said that at least eight people were wounded during a mass shooting at a South Philadelphia restaurant and bar in the early morning hours on Saturday, July 5th.
The ordeal began at 3:53 a.m. outside the 7 Elements restaurant, bar and lounge on the second floor of a building on 11th Street and Washington Avenue, NBC10 reported. Police said an argument outside the bar escalated into a physical fight involving knives.
As a security guard tried to break up the fight, at least one person pulled out a gun and fired shots from the balcony.
Responding officers discovered three people who were suffering from gunshot wounds; those individuals were transported to area hospitals to be treated.
Philadelphia Police Inspector D F Pace initially said that at least eight more victims from the shooting were taken to various area hospitals, bringing the total number of victims to 11.
"The most serious injuries were a person working ostensibly as a security guard who was shot in the face and also a woman who was shot in the back. They're both listed in critical condition," Pace said during a press conference on Saturday morning. "Others are reported to have been shot in the legs, extremities, arms, etcetera, and suffering other non-life-threatening gunshot injuries."
None of the victims have died from their injuries, but at least two of them were in critical condition.
As of 12:30 p.m., Sunday, July 6th, all victims have been placed in stable condition.
Police said that a security guard on duty admitted to firing his gun. Investigators have yet to determine if the security guard who used his weapon was the same security guard who was shot in the face.
Pace said that police found spent shell casings on the upper floor where the restaurant is located as well as the stairway leading to the restaurant and the bottom floor.
Pace also noted that the business appeared to be closed when police arrived and that establishments in Philadelphia should not be open at the time that the shooting occurred.
A sign from the Pennsylvania Department of Licenses and Inspections said that the restaurant was shut down due to zoning and licensing violations. Police have yet to release information on any possible suspects and are unsure if one person was involved or multiple people.
"I did hear popping, but I thought it was fireworks because it's 4th of July and I didn't know what's going on so I didn't pay no attention," said Tom O'Hara who lives nearby, ABC7 reported.
"It's sad man, you don't want to see this around your neighborhood," said Henry Zhang, who also lives in the neighborhood.
"I'm trying to go to work and see police cars lined up on bike lanes I'm like what happening," he added.
Investigators said there are more than a dozen surveillance cameras in the shopping plaza that captured the incident from multiple angles. Police are also using videos posted to social media as part of their investigation.
"We're not sure if those shell casings came from a gun that was fired above, or if the gunman or gunmen were firing even from the lower floors," Pace said.
Authorities confirmed that only eight people were shot, not 11 as some of the victims were initially counted twice.
No arrests have been made.
The ordeal began at 3:53 a.m. outside the 7 Elements restaurant, bar and lounge on the second floor of a building on 11th Street and Washington Avenue, NBC10 reported. Police said an argument outside the bar escalated into a physical fight involving knives.
As a security guard tried to break up the fight, at least one person pulled out a gun and fired shots from the balcony.
Responding officers discovered three people who were suffering from gunshot wounds; those individuals were transported to area hospitals to be treated.
Philadelphia Police Inspector D F Pace initially said that at least eight more victims from the shooting were taken to various area hospitals, bringing the total number of victims to 11.
"The most serious injuries were a person working ostensibly as a security guard who was shot in the face and also a woman who was shot in the back. They're both listed in critical condition," Pace said during a press conference on Saturday morning. "Others are reported to have been shot in the legs, extremities, arms, etcetera, and suffering other non-life-threatening gunshot injuries."
None of the victims have died from their injuries, but at least two of them were in critical condition.
As of 12:30 p.m., Sunday, July 6th, all victims have been placed in stable condition.
Police said that a security guard on duty admitted to firing his gun. Investigators have yet to determine if the security guard who used his weapon was the same security guard who was shot in the face.
Pace said that police found spent shell casings on the upper floor where the restaurant is located as well as the stairway leading to the restaurant and the bottom floor.
Pace also noted that the business appeared to be closed when police arrived and that establishments in Philadelphia should not be open at the time that the shooting occurred.
A sign from the Pennsylvania Department of Licenses and Inspections said that the restaurant was shut down due to zoning and licensing violations. Police have yet to release information on any possible suspects and are unsure if one person was involved or multiple people.
"I did hear popping, but I thought it was fireworks because it's 4th of July and I didn't know what's going on so I didn't pay no attention," said Tom O'Hara who lives nearby, ABC7 reported.
"It's sad man, you don't want to see this around your neighborhood," said Henry Zhang, who also lives in the neighborhood.
"I'm trying to go to work and see police cars lined up on bike lanes I'm like what happening," he added.
Investigators said there are more than a dozen surveillance cameras in the shopping plaza that captured the incident from multiple angles. Police are also using videos posted to social media as part of their investigation.
"We're not sure if those shell casings came from a gun that was fired above, or if the gunman or gunmen were firing even from the lower floors," Pace said.
Authorities confirmed that only eight people were shot, not 11 as some of the victims were initially counted twice.
No arrests have been made.
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