What we know about Philly's Memorial Day mass shooting
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A member of the Philadelphia Police Crime Scene Unit collects evidence following a Memorial Day shooting at Fairmount Park. Photo: Kyle Mazza/Anadolu via Getty Images
Two people were killed and nine others injured in Monday's shooting in Fairmount Park, a tragedy that Mayor Cherelle Parker decried as a "heinous act of violence."
The big picture: The shooting occurred as Memorial Day was winding down.
- Police believe three people opened fire around 10:15pm on a crowd of hundreds who were gathered at a holiday celebration near Lemon Hill Mansion, police commissioner Kevin Bethel said at a news conference Tuesday.
- Videos posted on social media captured the "sound of war" — rapid-fire gunfire that suggested at least one of the weapons was automated with a "switch," Bethel said.
Driving the news: A 21-year-old man and 23-year old woman were killed, Nine others, ranging from ages 15 to 27, were wounded.
- The victims are all in stable condition, city officials said during the news conference.
- No arrests have been made, and police are still searching for the suspects.
Zoom in: Police responded to the pop-up celebration in the park hours before the gunfire erupted and were helping direct traffic after shutting down the event, Bethel said.
- Gunfire erupted with officers stationed 75 to 100 feet away, Bethel said. They helped get several victims to the hospital.
Zoom out: The shooting — the second-largest in Philly since 2015, per the Inquirer — happened weeks before the official start of summer, historically Philly's deadliest season.
What they're saying: A fiery Parker, who appeared on the verge of tears, ticked down a list of anti-violence initiatives and programs the city has to help young people. She implored parents to keep tabs on their children, saying there was "no excuse" for the carnage.
- "We're not going back," she said, referring to Philly's steep decline in homicides. so far this year. "We need all hands on deck."
Councilmember Curtis Jones, whose district includes Lemon Hill, said some people aren't deterred by public safety regulations, including the outlawing of ski masks in public spaces that "predators" don to "go hunting."
- "The right hand of fellowship or the left hand of punishment," Jones said. "We are not going to concede Lemon Hill."
What we're watching: More police officers will be deployed in Fairmount Park in the coming weeks to try to identify issues before they happen, Bethel said.
- Parker hinted her administration may enact other unpopular methods to prevent future bloodshed.
- "When you see us making some decisions," she said, "you will understand why."