PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Three people were shot, five are under arrest, and at least four guns were recovered in West Philadelphia on Wednesday after the peace and community of a celebration marking the end of Ramadan was shattered by a gunfight.
According to Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel, there were 1,000 people out near 47th Street and Lancaster Avenue at an Eid al-Fitr celebration marking the end of Ramadan when, around 2:30 p.m., a police detail assigned to the event heard a round of approximately 30 gunshots.
Bethel said two factions of young people were exchanging gunfire within Clara Muhammad Square. Officers who ran into the park saw three men and a woman running. They stopped those four and recovered four weapons, Bethel said.
At the same time, an officer encountered a 15-year-old male who had a weapon. The officer fired at the teen, striking him in the shoulder and leg. The officer secured the weapon and then took the kid to a hospital.
Bethel said, in all, five people are in custody: the three armed men and one armed woman stopped by police, and the armed 15-year-old boy who was shot.
Another two people showed up at the hospital: a 22-year-old with a gunshot wound to his midsection and another juvenile with a gunshot wound to his hand. Police say they believe the injuries came during the gunfight in the park.
Unfortunately during the large police response rushing to the scene, a city police patrol wagon struck a child. The child has a broken leg.
Stay with KYW Newsradio for more on this developing story.