What we know and don’t know about the Parkway shooting

A highway patrol officer from Philly and a Montgomery County sheriff's deputy were shot with .40-caliber rounds by the same gun as they stood 20 feet apart in front of the Art Museum, police said.

by Diane Mastrull and Erin McCarthy

Updated July 6, 2022, 8:14 p.m. ET

Published July 5, 2022, 1:00 a.m. ET

Two law enforcement officers were shot Monday night on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway near the Philadelphia Museum of Art just as the Fourth of July concert had concluded and fireworks got underway.

Thousands of panicked spectators ran as police ordered them off the Parkway. Others close to the stage were directed to take cover there as a search continued for the shooter both on the ground and with the help of searchlight-equipped police helicopters overhead.

Here’s what we know and don’t know.

What happened?

Philadelphia highway patrol officer Sergio Diggs, 36, suffered a graze wound to the forehead, and Deputy John Foster, 44, of the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department bomb squad, was grazed in the right shoulder just after 9:47 p.m., Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw said.

Both officers were treated at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and are at home recovering.

Police are investigating the possibility that they were struck by bullets descending from “celebratory gunfire,” possibly from more than a mile away.

Chief Inspector Frank Vanore said Wednesday the officers hadn’t heard gunfire before being struck and stood 20 feet apart from each other in front of the Art Museum, in the 2500 block of Spring Garden Street.

What is known about the weapon or weapons used?

The bullets that struck Diggs and Foster were .40-caliber rounds fired from the same gun, Vanore said Wednesday at a City Hall news conference. They could have been fired over a mile away given their near-pristine condition after they landed, and because neither shot penetrated the skin of either officer who was hit, Vanore said.

Where did the shooting occur?

Authorities still don’t know where the shots originated. No officers around the Parkway reported hearing gunshots or seeing muzzle flashes, leading police to believe they must have been fired from elsewhere.

What is the status of the search for the shooter?

No arrests have been made. Police are urging anyone with information, including video, to call 215-686-TIPS.

Who were the officers who were shot?

Diggs is a 14-year veteran of the Philadelphia Police Department, where he previously served as a narcotics officer. Since 2019, he has been assigned to Highway Patrol, which focuses on neighborhoods with high rates of gun violence.

Foster, a 17-year veteran of the Montgomery County Sheriff’s office, has been a member of the office’s bomb squad for three years. In that role, he often works in surrounding counties for large events such as the city’s July Fourth festivities.

Both officers were working fireworks-related crowd control Monday night.

Was the shooting of the officers intentional?

It’s not clear. But Vanore said Wednesday the distance from which the shots are believed to have come would have made targeting Diggs and Foster difficult.

What is the status of the investigation?

Investigators are conducting ballistics tests, examining the officers’ injuries, and seeking additional video evidence to learn more about the possible trajectory of the bullets and the location of the shooter.

What did Mayor Jim Kenney say about the shooting?

At a news conference outside of Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney spoke to reporters hours after the shooting. “This is a gun country. ... Until Americans decide they want to give up the guns ... we’re going to have this problem.”

He was also criticized by some for saying he will “be happy” when he isn’t mayor because of his worries about public safety.

Does Kenney intend to resign over those comments, as some have suggested he should?

Kenney again apologized Wednesday for indicating he looks forward to not being mayor anymore, saying he was frustrated and emotional after the shooting, and had just visited the wounded officers at the hospital.

“I love our city and as mayor, there’s nothing more I want than to help solve this problem and to keep our residents and visitors safe,” he told reporters.

What had been going on on the Parkway?

The Wawa Welcome America Party on the Parkway, returning for the first time since COVID-19, included amusements, dozens of food trucks, games of chance, live music and street performers throughout the day. Monday evening featured a concert by Ava Max, Jason Derulo, and Tori Kelly followed by fireworks that filled the sky over the Art Museum.