Woman visiting from Canada among 3 innocent bystanders shot in Center City Philadelphia

Monday, June 3, 2024
PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- A woman visiting from Canada is among three innocent bystanders who were shot in Philadelphia's Center City section Sunday.

The shooting happened at 11th and Ludlow streets around 11:30 p.m., according to police. The area isn't far from Jefferson Hospital and the Fashion District.

Investigators said at least four shots were fired from a 9mm gun.

Police said a 22-year-old man was shot twice in the arm, a 53-year-old woman was hit in the knee, and a 42-year-old woman was shot in the pelvis and arm.

"There was some type of argument or dispute that happened out here; however, we're getting conflicting information on the description of any shooters," said Captain Anthony Ganard with Philadelphia police.



All three victims were rushed a couple of blocks away to Jefferson Hospital. The woman who was shot twice was initially listed in critical condition but has since been stabilized.

Action News has learned the 53-year-old victim is visiting from Canada, according to police. She is listed in stable condition.

The man who was shot is also listed in stable condition.

"I believe two of the individuals who were shot were maybe just people who were walking by. So whoever shot, didn't even appear they hit the person they were trying to shoot," noted Commissioner Kevin Bethel with Philadelphia police.

There was a Pride event in the area several hours before the shooting, but police say the two events do not appear to be connected.



"Nothing, absolutely zero to do with Pride," Bethel said.

Now, tourists visiting the city are growing wary.

"What I think is that people are hurting and they need to address poverty from the base level. The root level of what is really going on," noted Stacey Thomas from Baltimore, Maryland.

Residents voiced the same concerns.

"I mean, not really shocking, it's just the gun violence," said Lena Gamble, of West Philadelphia. "People have guns and don't have licenses, and they just let anybody get guns and that's the problem."



However, people who frequent the busy area told Action News they don't often hear of shootings there.

"Yeah, that's very rare. I don't know if it's from celebrations last night. I don't know," said Michael Dillard, of West Philadelphia.

Business owners in the area told Action News that this shooting has caused concerns over their safety.

"I've been at this location for five years, but I've been down the street for 15 years," noted Eric Razon with E.R. Diamonds.

Razon's business is two doors down from the latest crime scene.



"It's one of those things where you know it's potentially going to happen near you or in your area," he said. "We've seen it come up slowly to the Business District of Philadelphia."

He says he's stepping up security in light of the recent violence.

"We have security watching us, surveilling us 24/7," Razon said. "We know the new mayor is really stepping up, hopefully, it'll stick. And we'll see a change. That's what we really need here."

Investigators said they're working on getting a better video, hoping to piece together how this all played out and get a better description of the shooter.

RELATED: Check the 6abc Neighborhood Safety Tracker

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