Eight Children Gunned Down On Cottman Avenue
by Alex Lloyd Gross
It was a scene out of a horror movie. Over 30 shots were fired at children by multiple gunmen. This happened today at Cottman and Rising Sun Avenues. It was near a SEPTA bus stop and the target of the gun fire were students from Northeast High School, on their way home.
Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel said at least eight children between 15 and 17 years of age were shot when three males got out of a car near the Dunkin Donuts . One student was hit nine times by gunfire and is in very critical condition, Bethel said.
“At some point when the bus is pulling up and the kids are converging to get on the bus, three individuals exit that vehicle and then discharges multiple times,” said Bethel. He said detectives are looking at multiple security camera footage. That, along with license plate readers could lead to clues as to who was involved in the shooting.
Seven other victims — including two 15-year-olds, four 16-year-olds, and a 17-year-old — were shot. Bullets hit the route 18and route 67 bus as well. No one on any of the buses reported any injuries. Most SEPTA buses have cameras on them.
Crisis counselors will be at Northeast High School tomorrow to speak with students that want help. .This is the fourth shooting at a bus stop in a week. No arrests have been made in this shooting, police said.