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Our live coverage of a mass shooting on South Street that killed three people continues here.
Recap: Saturday mass shooting kills three, wounds 11 on South street
Three people were killed and 11 others wounded in a mass shooting late Saturday night on South Street amid chaos that erupted on legendary blocks that have long been among the region’s most popular gathering places.
“Once it started I didn’t think it was going to stop,” said Joe Smith, 23, who was standing outside the Theater of the Living Arts on South between Third and Fourth Streets, when the shots rang out around 11:30 p.m.
» READ MORE: ‘I didn’t think it was going to stop’: 3 dead, 11 wounded in South Street mass shooting
—Anthony R. Wood
Gallery: Scenes from the aftermath
—Charles Fox
Another fatal shooting blocks away
About two hours after the mass shooting on South Street, police responded to reports of gunfire on Broad Street about two blocks north of South Street.
About 50 minutes later, a man was found nearby on the 1300 block of Waverly Street unconscious with multiple gunshot wounds.
Police briefly discussed what hospital to take the victim to because Thomas Jefferson University Hospital had told police it had reached its limit after admitting seven victims from South Street shooting, but the hospital said it could take one more.
The man was pronounced dead on arrival at Jefferson. Police said there was no immediate indication of a connection with the mass shooting.
—Robert Moran
Police report seeing multiple shooters
A police commander said officers first heard numerous gunshots near Second and South Streets and saw multiple shooters. Inspector D.F. Pace “numerous” officers had already been detailed to patrol the busy entertainment hub during what he called a “standard deployment” during summer weekends
Officers ran in that direction and one officer fired at one of the shooters while that person was still firing a gun, said Pace. It was not clear if the officer struck the shooter, Pace said.
One shooter dropped a firearm, which had an extended magazine, Pace said.
Pace said 14 people were shot, and three died from their injuries.
Police recovered two semi-automatic handguns from the shooting scene, Pace said. Shell casings stretched from the 200 block to the 300 block of South Street.
“You can imagine there were hundreds of individuals enjoying South Street, as they do every single weekend, when this shooting broke out,” Pace said.
The investigation remains active. Pace said authorities have to wait until later Sunday to access surveillance footage from nearby businesses that were closed at the time of the shooting.
—Max Marin, Robert Moran
‘It was chaos’
Eric Walsh was closing up the outdoor seating area of O’Neals, a bar on Third Street right below South, around 11:30 p.m. Saturday when he said he heard gun shots ring out.
Two patrons were smoking outside and Walsh said he ushered them into the bar after he saw a young woman collapse to the ground on the corner of Third and South streets a quarter of a block away.
”People were coming off the street with blood splatters on white sneakers and skinned knees and skinned elbows,” said a visibly shaken Walsh. “We literally just were balling up napkins and wetting them and handing them to people... it was chaos.”
—Ximena Conde
Friends and family wait for information outside Jefferson University Hospital
Seven victims were taken to Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, according to police.
Police confirm three dead
Police have confirmed that three people have died as a result of the shooting on South Street, with at least 10 other people wounded by gunfire. Two of the dead are a 25-year-old woman and a 22-year-old man, police said.
—Robert Moran
Scenes from South Street
—Max Marin
A crowded night in Philadelphia
The area around the shooting is typically busy on Saturday nights, especially when the weather is nice. On South Street, the heavy metal band Dying Fetus was the headliner Saturday night at Theater of Living Arts, located between Third and Fourth Streets, where shots were reported.
The shooting scene is just blocks from the city’s Gayborhood, where streets and outdoor bars and restaurants were packed on a weather-perfect Saturday evening with revelers celebrating the 50th anniversary of Philadelphia’s first Gay Pride Day. A parade and festival are planned for Sunday.
—Diane Mastrull
At least 13 people shot, two dead
Police say at least 13 people were shot, and two have since died after an eruption of gunfire in the area of Fourth and South Streets around 11:30 p.m.
One police officer fired shots in response.
A person considered a suspect sustained a gunshot wound to a forearm, but it was not confirmed if that person was shot by the officer. Police also reported recovering a gun at South Street and American Street, which is between Third and Second Streets.
—Robert Moran
‘I just heard screams’
Joe Smith, 23, and his friend were outside of Theatre of the Living Arts on South Street waiting for a staff member to return his phone when shots rang out about 10 feet from the venue right before midnight.
”Once it started I didn’t think it was going to stop,” said Smith, who said he immediately thought of recent shootings in Buffalo, N.Y. and Uvalde, Texas “There was guttural screaming. I just heard screams.”
Smith said he other weekend revelers ran down South Street to 4th and Bainbridge Streets amid mass panic and confusion. They waited for police to open access to the garage where they parked.
—Ximena Conde
Philadelphia police say avoid the area
Shooting incident was reported at the same intersection early Tuesday
The shootings followed a reported incident in which someone fired multiple shots at Fourth and South Streets around 12:30 a.m. Tuesday.
Police said others fired shots nearby that struck homes on the 400 block of Gaskill Street, according to a report by WPHL-TV.
Officers at the scene found nearly 50 pieces of ballistic evidence that spanned several blocks.
No arrests were made but the station said police were searching for a female suspect.
—Anthony R. Wood
Multiple people reported shot on South Street, according to police
Police are reporting that 15 people, including a person currently considered a suspect, were taken to three hospitals following a shooting at Fourth and South Streets. One of the victims has been pronounced dead at a hospital.
Seven victims were taken to Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, including the victim who died, police said. Five people were taken to Pennsylvania Hospital, including the suspect. The suspect sustained a gunshot wound to the forearm.
Three other victims were taken to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, police said.
—Robert Moran