West Oak Lane triple shooting sends teens to the hospital

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Authorities are investigating a shooting incident that left three teenagers injured at Finley Playground in West Oak Lane on Saturday. The gunfire erupted just after 5 PM near Lowber Avenue and Sharpnack Street, prompting an immediate response from law enforcement.

Philadelphia Police Inspector D.F. Pace reported that the crime scene contained at least 17 spent shell casings. The shooting was recorded by the park's surveillance system, and officers are currently reviewing the footage to piece together the sequence of events leading to the incident. Initial observations indicate a confrontation between two groups of young individuals, culminating in one group opening fire.

Witness Kevin, who arrived shortly after the shooting, described the scene as chaotic, with people scrambling for safety. “You can't really take the time to pinpoint who's going where… you're only thinking about your own safeguards,” he remarked, reflecting on the sudden nature of the violence.

The victims include a 15-year-old who was shot in the chest and is in critical condition, and two 14-year-olds — one shot in the thigh and another grazed in the face. Authorities believe the gunshot wound to the chest was intentional, while details about the other injuries are still unclear. All victims were transported to the hospital by private vehicle.

Kevin expressed his disappointment about the incident, noting that the park was considered one of the safer recreational spaces in the area. “This park is the only park that's really around that's safe, even though it didn't show to be safe today,” he added. As of now, police have not made any arrests and the motive for the shooting remains unknown.