17-year-old boy shot 9 times in bus stop mass shooting, in critical condition

A 17-year-old boy is in critical condition after he was shot nine times in a mass shooting at a SEPTA bus stop in Philadelphia, authorities said.

Three masked gunmen exited a car parked near the bus stop and fired over 30 rounds toward high schoolers as they tried to board a bus around 3 p.m. Wednesday, Philadelphia police said.

Eight teens -- ages 15 to 17 -- were shot, and two of them were hospitalized in critical condition, police said.

The three gunmen -- as well as a fourth suspect who remained in the car -- are still at large, Philadelphia Police Deputy Commissioner of Investigations Frank Vanore said Thursday.

The suspects' car -- which had been reported stolen -- was recovered Wednesday night, Vanore said.

A motive is not clear, but the gunmen "went right toward" the crowd of teens, Vanore said, adding, "It appears the individual that was most critical seemed to be a focal point, but I'm not sure of that."

"Doctors are optimistic" about the condition of the 17-year-old shot nine times, Vanore said. "They're looking to hopefully upgrade him at some point."

Wednesday's mass shooting is just the latest in an outbreak of gun violence in the city, and the fourth shooting involving a local SEPTA bus in one week, according to Philadelphia ABC station WPVI.

"It is hard to sit here and see, in three days, 11 juveniles shot, who were coming and going from school," Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel told reporters Wednesday.

Fatal shootings in Philadelphia are down year-to-date in 2024 compared to last year, with 55 this year, a 30% decrease, according to statistics from the Philadelphia city controller.

Bethel said police are investigating whether Wednesday's shooting is connected to a shooting on Monday, in which a 17-year-old was shot and killed at a SEPTA station and two others suffered graze wounds.

Police plan to increase security efforts "significantly" throughout the week, specifically near schools around dismissal time, according to Bethel.

Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker declared a public safety emergency in January.

"We will not be held hostage," Parker said Wednesday. "We will use every legal tool in the toolbox to ensure the public health and safety of the people of our city."