SEPTA shootings: 3 people killed, 4 injured on or around SEPTA buses in less than 48 hours
SEPTA officials update safety concerns after fatal gun violence on buses
SEPTA officials spoke in a briefing about the recent rash of fatal gun violence on SEPTA transportation.
PHILADELPHIA - SEPTA violence appears to be on the rise after three deadly shootings erupted either on a bus, or at a bus stop in three different sections of Philadelphia.
In less than 48 hours, three victims, including a teenager, were killed by gunfire as 4 others were injured.
The tragic killings began Sunday night when a 27-year-old man was shot to death getting off SEPTA bus in Oxford Circle.
Police say two men were getting off SEPTA's Route 59 bus when one of the men opened fire on the other. The man collapsed and died in a nearby parking lot.
3 deadly shooting erupt around SEPTA in just 2 days
In less than 48 hours, three deadly shooting have happen on or around SEPT buses as police continue searching for suspects.
On Monday, a 17-year-old boy was killed after shots were fired at a bus stop in Ogontz.
Officials say a group of 15–20 people were boarding the bus when two individuals walked up and started to fire multiple rounds.
Four other people, including a 71-year-old woman, were also shot. They are all said to be in stable condition.
The latest deadly shooting unfolded Tuesday evening when a 37-year-old man was fatally struck onboard a SEPTA bus.
An apparent argument on the bus sparked the shooting, according to officials.
The shooter reportedly left the bus and slipped into the Snyder Station on the Broad Street Line.
Police are still searching for suspects in all three shootings.
In a briefing earlier Wednesday, SEPTA Police Chief, Chuck Lawson, stated, "We’re going to use every legal means at our disposal to target illegal gun possession. We are going to target individuals concealing their identity, open drug use, fare evasion. We’re going to target every criminal code on the books."
They say they’ll legally frisk passengers they suspect are carrying a weapon. City cops will check buses for safety while SEPTA says it will place more officers on buses and go after fare evaders.
FOX 29’s Jeff Cole asked, "Is fare evading linked in some way to gun violence?"
"I will tell you that overwhelmingly what we see after a crime anywhere in our system is the individual fare evaded," Chief Lawson replied.