7 hurt in Philadelphia bus shooting

PHILADELPHIA — Seven bystanders were injured Wednesday in a shooting involving a Philadelphia city bus, authorities said, the fourth gunfire incident on the transit system in as many days.

The latest shooting took place in the afternoon in a northeastern neighborhood, said John Golden, a spokesperson for the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority,

or SEPTA.

The injured were people on the street, Golden said, and they were taken to Einstein Medical Center and Jefferson Torresdale Hospital. The bus was hit by gunfire, but there were no reports of injuries to passengers of the driver.

Police spokesperson Officer Tanya Little said numerous 911 calls were received just before 3 p.m. and upon arrival, police found seven people with gunshot wounds.

Hospital nursing supervisors either declined to comment on the conditions of the patients they received, or did not immediately return a message seeking comment.

Monique Braxton, deputy chief of communications for the Philadelphia school district, said the shooting occurred near two schools, Northeast High School and Crossan Elementary, but she didn't know whether any students were victims.

The elementary school was dismissing students at the time but pulled them back inside and locked down, she added. It was later given the all-clear from police.

Wednesday's shooting came a day after a passenger on another bus was shot, marking the third time in three days that someone was killed while riding, entering or leaving a SEPTA bus.

That shooting occurred around 6:35 p.m. Tuesday, when police said a verbal argument and then a physical fight began.