City leaders hold emergency meeting to address teen gun violence after rec center shootings

Philadelphia officials held an emergency meeting on Tuesday night to address teen gun violence after eight young people were shot within a matter of days across the city.

The meeting was called in response to a triple shooting on Saturday outside the Finley Recreation Center in East Mount Airy.

As the community filled the rec center on Tuesday night to discuss solutions, police said another shooting happened minutes away outside another recreation center.

Philadelphia police said just after 5:40 p.m. police responded to reports that an 18-year-old was shot several times in the chest outside the Lonnie Young Recreation Center in East Germantown.

The man was transported to Albert Einstein Medical Center, where he is in critical condition.

According to Action News at 10, police believe there may have been two shooters involved, potentially shooting at each other, but no arrests have been made.

As the shooting happened, city leaders and the community gathered at the Finley Recreation Center for the meeting, called by 9th District Councilmember Anthony Phillips.

“Those who come into our neighborhood are going to learn tonight we do not tolerate any nonsense like this,” said Phillips.

The meeting comes after 13 people were shot across the city over the weekend, according to the inquirer, and three people were killed.

One of those shootings injured three teenage boys outside of the Finley Recreation Center on Saturday just after 5 p.m. The teens, aged 14, 15, and 16, were taken to Jefferson Einstein Hospital, according to the Inquirer.

Philadelphia police have released surveillance video of the shooting as they continue to search for the suspect.

According to the Inquirer, police said the suspect was seen leaving the rec center just three minutes before the shooting.

Then, video shows the suspect walking with a gun as he starts to shoot into the crowd of people. You then see him fleeing in a dark sedan which police said could be a Nissan.

“If you come to our rec centers, we have cameras in all of them most of them, we’re going to find them and bring the justice,” said Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel.

Police will be increasing their presence outside the Finley Recreation Center, according to Action News at 10.

One victim from Saturday’s shooting is still in the hospital after two others were released.

Two suspects have been arrested in connection with Tuesday’s shooting, according to Action News at 10.

Both shootings are still under investigation.