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4 teenagers hospitalized with severe injuries after being shot in North Philadelphia
Police say four teenagers are in critical but stable condition after they were shot in North Philadelphia early Thursday morning.
NORTH PHILADELPHIA - Police say four teenagers are in the hospital after they were shot in North Philadelphia on Thursday morning.
According to Philadelphia Chief Inspector Scott Small, the incident happened just before 2 a.m.
Police say officers with the 6th District responded to numerous 911 calls reporting gunshots and a shooting near 7th and Wallace Streets.
When police and medics arrived on scene, they found four shooting victims in the courtyard of the Spring Garden Homes, according to authorities.
Small says two of the shooting victims ran inside a property of the Spring Garden Homes after being shot.
According to police, the victims were two teenage boys and two teenage girls.
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Authorities say all of the teenagers are in critical but stable condition and they are expected to be okay.
Small says a 16-year-old girl sustained a serious gunshot wound to the face, while a 14-year-old girl was also shot in the face.
The boys, ages 13 and 15, were shot in their arms and legs, according to officials.
Small says 21 spent shell casings from a semi-automatic weapon were found in the courtyard of the complex.
Investigators say they believe all four of the victims were standing near the home where two of the teens live.
Police found a gun in the courtyard and believe it was left behind by someone in the group who was shot at.
Authorities say they do not have a motive at this time, but said they will check cameras in the area.
"I’m just so lost for words right now," a mother of one of the victims stated. She said her 15-year-old son was outside in the courtyard of their community with his best friend and other teens when the shooting began.
"I just heard a bunch of gunshots and then I ran out and was like, ‘Where’s my son at? Where’s my son? Is he dead?’ and nobody said nothing," the mom continued.
"Stop the violence. I’m glad everybody is still here and not dead, but them little girls didn’t have to go out like that," the mom remarked.
"I cried when I heard about them getting shot," neighbor and family friend Turon Whitepool said. "That really hurt my heart and I’m tired of this stuff that’s going on, this shooting stuff, especially with these kids."
Whitepool says he looks at one of the 15-year-old’s as a brother and warned them only a half hour before the shooting to go inside.
Neighbors say the block is usually quiet, but they know of ongoing issues elsewhere in the neighborhood.
"They were standing out here. I told them to go in the house. ‘Bro, what are you out here for?’" Whitepool described. "I just pray and hope that he’s all right and when I see him, we’re gonna fight, cause I told this boy to stay out of the way."
This shooting came a few hours after another quadruple shooting in West Philadelphia that left several people injured, including a 2-year-old.
It also comes at a time when the city has implemented a curfew for children and teens under 18.