'Heartbreaking': 2-year-old girl, mom and 5 teens injured in Philadelphia shooting near school

Among the victims, the two-year-old girl suffered an injury on her thigh but was said to be in stable condition

UPDATED FEB 25, 2023

The oldest victim was a 31-year-old woman who got injured during the shooting outside a Philadelphia school (Screengrab/ABC7 News)

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA: At least seven people, including five teens and a 2-year-old girl, have reportedly been shot and wounded. The incident took place on Thursday evening, February 23, outside a Philadelphia school where shots were first heard around 6 pm in the city’s Strawberry Mansion neighborhood. Among the victims, the two-year-old, who was hit in the thigh, was said to be in stable condition at a hospital.

As per police, the five teenage boys were being treated too after the shootout, with one being reported to be in critical condition. The oldest victim was a 31-year-old woman, who is currently in stable condition. The authorities are investigating and trying to establish the motive behind the attack. However, no arrest has been made as of now. Philadelphia School Board President Reginald Streater said that the alleged shooting took place near an elementary school when a ‘non-school event’ was about to end, according to ABC7 News.

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Schools and other public spaces must remain safe havens for youth and the community. It’s heartbreaking and infuriating to learn of another shooting occurring on or near school grounds. I’m praying for the victims involved. https://t.co/dr5LtUeXsP
— Mayor Jim Kenney (@PhillyMayor) February 24, 2023

'Praying for the victims'

"This has been a fairly quiet portion of the 22nd district for quite some time now," said Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw. "At this point, we're piecing everything together to figure out if this is retaliatory if some of those victims were intended or not, but it's still really early to tell." Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney called the shooting "heartbreaking," and said, “Schools and other public spaces must remain safe havens for youth and the community. It’s heartbreaking and infuriating to learn of another shooting occurring on or near school grounds. I’m praying for the victims involved.”

This is a developing story. MEAWW will keep you updated.