Police investigating shooting spree
Shots fired all over the city last weekend have landed at least one teenager in the hospital as the authorities search for a cause in incidents believed to be related.
One shooting on Sunday afternoon sent the teenager to the hospital, Philadelphia Police Chief Eric Lyons said.
Lyons said his department has received “multiple reports of shots fired over the last several days.”
On, Sunday, May 19, officers responded at about 1:50 p.m. to the 500 block of Valley View Drive in reference to a 17-year-old male being shot.
“Upon arrival, officers found the teenager with gunshot wounds to the arm and leg,” Lyons said. “He was transported to a Meridan hospital and later released.”
The Valley View shooting is the only incident in which any injuries have been reported.
Lyons said PPD received a total of five reports of shots fired between Friday, May 17 and Monday night.
“Investigators have several people of interest identified in these shootings and should have arrest made in the upcoming days as the investigation continues,” Lyons said.
On Friday, May 17, at about 2:30 p.m. officers responded to the area of Christine Street off Ivy to reports of an exchange of gunfire between a group of men standing in a yard and a car passing through the area.
The vehicle was hit once and no injuries were reported in that incident, according to Lyons.
The following day at about 5 p.m., officers responded to reports of shots fired in the area of the Reunion Court Apartments where another vehicle was struck.
On the evening of Monday, May 20, Lyons said they received two separate reports of shots fired. One on Coleman Street and the other on Valley View Drive. Lyons said the shooting on Coleman Street was reported at about 10 p.m. and the shooting on Valley View Drive was reported about an hour later.
“Both had reports of a house being hit with bullets,” Lyons said. “No other injuries have been reported in these incidents.”
According to Lyons, PPD is working with law enforcement in Leake County in relation to these shootings. Shots fired in Walnut Grove on Saturday evening are believed to be connected to the shootings reported here, Lyons said.
Lyons said he hoped to make more information available as suspects are identifed and arrests are made.