Authorities have confirmed that the driver and a suspected gunman are now in custody following the shooting of eight Philadelphia high school students at a bus stop. The incident occurred last Wednesday afternoon as students from Northeast High School were waiting to board their bus home. Two juveniles were also identified as being involved in the shooting but have not yet been located.
The 18-year-old suspected shooter was apprehended on Saturday, while the driver was taken into custody earlier. Law enforcement officials are set to provide further details at a news conference scheduled for late Monday afternoon.
The shooting, which was the fourth in as many days on the public transit system, prompted a nearby elementary school to go into lockdown during dismissal time to ensure the safety of their students. The victims, aged 15 to 17, were targeted by three masked suspects who opened fire as they approached the bus stop.
Surveillance footage revealed the suspects fleeing the scene in a blue Hyundai Sonata, which was later found by police. One of the victims, a 16-year-old, sustained nine gunshot wounds and is currently in critical condition along with another teen.
Northeast High School, located over a mile away from the shooting site, is the largest public high school in Philadelphia with over 3,000 students. Authorities are investigating whether the incident may be linked to a previous shooting where a 17-year-old charter school student was killed and four others injured.
Recent weeks have seen a surge in gun violence on the city's public transportation system. In one incident, a 37-year-old man was fatally shot on a bus in South Philadelphia following an argument, while in another case, a 27-year-old man was killed moments after disembarking from a bus in the Oxford Circle area.
