March 07, 2024
Kyle Mazza/SOPA Images; Sipa USA
Eight students at Northeast Philadelphia High School were injured during a mass shooting at the SEPTA bus stop at Cottman and Rising Sun avenues on Wednesday. The car used by the suspects was found in Olney. Above, the crime scene on Wednesday evening.
Police are stressing the need for tips related to the mass shooting at the SEPTA stop in Northeast Philadelphia, suggesting the information may prove crucial in identifying the shooters.
"Some of those tips are corroborating information that we have that I can't talk about yet," Deputy Commissioner of Investigations Frank Vanore said during a Thursday afternoon press conference. "But we are moving toward knowing more about what happened yesterday and who we're looking for."
If people saw a car that matched the description of the 2018 blue Hyundai Sonata used in the shooting – even hours beforehand – that could be helpful, Vanore said. Police could examine surveillance footage, potentially finding images of the shooters without their masks.
The Hyundai, found last night by police, was reported stolen Saturday, Vanore said. Police found another stolen vehicle – a gray Kia Sportage – at the location where the Sonata was reported stolen. Police believe the suspects left the Kia and then stole the Hyundai used in Wednesday's shooting. Investigators will search both vehicles for forensic evidence, Vanore said.
One of the eight teenagers wounded in the shooting remains in critical condition, but doctors are optimistic that his condition will be upgraded, Vanore said.
Investigators are still trying to determine a motive for the shooting. On Monday, a 17-year-old boy was killed and three other people were injured, including two teenagers, during a shooting at a bus stop in Ogontz. Vanore said evidence has not connected those incidents at this time.
"We are well aware that there could be previous instances that connect to this, but I can tell you things that we look for to connect are ballistics, individuals, witnesses — we're not getting a lot of that," said Vanore.
Between the two shootings, 11 teens were shot.
"That's really concerning," Vanore said. "So we need people to see that, be as angry as everyone else is, and let us know who did this so we can end this rather quickly."
The original story is below:
Philadelphia police say they have found the getaway car used by the people who carried out the mass shooting at a Northeast Philly bus stop on Wednesday afternoon. The four suspects remain at large.
At 11 p.m., highway patrol officers found the car – a dark blue Hyundai Sonata – parked on the 400 block of Roselyn Street in the city's Olney neighborhood. The vehicle since has been impounded, police said.
Police confirmed the vehicle had been stolen, when contacted by PhillyVoice on Thursday morning, but they did not provide any additional details regarding their search for the suspects.
Surveillance footage, released by police Wednesday night, shows a glimpse of the violent scene at Cottman and Rising Sun avenues. The shooting wounded eight students from Northeast High School.
WANTED for shooting 8 juveniles on 3/6/24 at 7300 Rising Sun Ave. Suspects armed and dangerous - do not approach. If you have information on these suspects -please call or 215-686-TIPS(8477) or 911 pic.twitter.com/cspPIL5LLv
— Philadelphia Police Department (@PhillyPolice) March 7, 2024
The video shows a dark blue Hyundai Sonata with tinted windows and an unknown license plate, with the "H" Hyundai emblem removed from the grill. After the car parks, three individuals exit, run toward a SEPTA bus and open fire in its direction. The video then shows the three suspects running back to the car, and a fourth suspect drove them away.
The eight injured teenagers are being treated in area hospitals. According to police, one is in critical condition. The other seven are in stable condition. Northeast High School has switched to virtual learning for the remainder of the week.
