At least three people were killed and 11 others were injured in a shooting Saturday night, Philadelphia Police Inspector D.F. Pace.
Officers patrolling the South Street area heard gunfire shortly before midnight and noticed “several active shooters shooting into the crowd,” Pace said.
A police officer was “about 10 to 15 yards” from one of the shooters and shot at the suspect, Pace said. “We are not sure if he was hit or not, but the policeman managed to get this man to drop his gun and run away.
Two pistols were found at the scene, including one with an extended magazine, Pace said. But no one was arrested as of early Sunday.
The identities of the two men and one woman killed have not been revealed.
The violence in Philadelphia marked the sixth mass shooting in the United States this weekend, according to the nonprofit Gun Violence Archive.
“The rise in gun violence we’ve seen across the country – and here in Philadelphia – is making me not only heartbroken, but angry,” Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenny said Sunday.
“Once again, we see lives being lost and wounded in a senseless way in another horrific, brazen and contemptuous act of gun violence.
There were hundreds of people in the area
South Street is “known for being an entertainment corridor” with many bars and restaurants, Pace said.
“There were hundreds of people just enjoying South Street, like every weekend when this shooting broke out.
The motives for the shooting remain unclear.
So far this year, there have been at least 239 mass shootings, according to the gun violence archive. CNN and the archives describe the mass shooting as one in which at least four people were shot, with the exception of the shooter.
“It’s time for real action”
The mayor said he was fed up with senseless gun violence and called for stricter laws to help prevent violent people from getting guns.
“We cannot accept the continuing violence as a way of life in our country. “Until we look at the availability and easy access to firearms, we will always have a tough fight,” Kenny said.
“I will continue to fight for the protection of our communities and call on others to advocate for stricter laws that keep guns out of the hands of thugs.”
Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner has called for a boycott of donations and lobbyists from the National Arms Association.
After “the horrific crimes on South Street last night told our Pennsylvania lawmakers it was time for real action,” Krasner wrote on Twitter on Sunday.
“Boycott NRA lobbyists, boycott NRA donations, and bring real rules to common sense guns to Pennsylvania. Now. “
CNN’s Kylie Westhoff contributed to this report.
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