PHILADELPHIA: A shooting between two rival groups left three people injured at a celebration to mark the end of the holy month of Ramadan, said Philadelphia police on Wednesday.
Police gave no indication that the event to celebrate Eid al-Fitr, was itself targeted.
Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel told the media that they are very fortunate that there are not more individuals shot and anyone killed.
He added that in mid-afternoon as around 1,000 people were celebrating the end to the holy month of Ramadan in a park, around 30 gunshots rang out.
Bethel added that there seems to be two factions within the park, who exchanged gunfire.
Three people were injured, including an armed 15-year-old boy who was shot by police. He was shot in the arm and leg.
Five people were apprehended including the teen, and five guns were also recovered, said the police.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro on X, formerly Twitter, wrote that Eid should always be a time of celebration for our Muslims. He said he was grieved for every member of the Philadelphia Muslim community whose celebration was spoiled by today’s gun violence.
