In the investigation into the SEPTA bus stop mass shooting, law enforcement authorities have made notable progress. Two suspects have been arrested, while warrants have been issued for the arrest of two others believed to be involved in the tragic incident.
The mass shooting happened at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, March 6, at Cottman and Rising Sun avenues, a SEPTA bus stop in the Burholme section of Philadelphia. The incident claimed the lives of eight teenagers, shocking the community and drawing attention to the rising issue of gun violence.
“We are not done until any group involved in this kind of conduct is done. Until they do not exist anymore,” Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner said Monday. He emphasized that the two arrests were only the initial stage of the investigation.
The students injured in the shooting were between the ages of 15 and 17 years old. A 16-year-old boy who got shot nine times is in critical condition. Police think he was the main target.
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“To our young people who were impacted, know we are making progress. We will not tolerate this type of violence in our streets, in our schools, and near our schools,” the police stated during Monday’s news conference.
During a Monday afternoon news conference, Deputy Commissioner Frank Vanore made some disclosure about one of the suspects. He said that 18-year-old Jamaal Tucker voluntarily surrendered himself on Friday after the police served multiple search warrants to retrieve evidence.
In a separate operation, the U.S. Marshals arrested the second suspect, 18-year-old Ahnile Buggs, on Saturday. Vanore further revealed that during Buggs’ arrest, police recovered a fully loaded .40 caliber Glock 22 pistol equipped with an extended magazine.
Vanore added that the gun found had laser sights and a Glock switch, which essentially turned it into a “fully automatic machine gun.” Police confirmed they matched this gun to shell casings found at the shooting scene.
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Both Tucker and Buggs have been charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault, weapons offenses, and other related charges. They are currently held on bail exceeding $2 million. Preliminary hearings for both of them are set for March 20.
While attempts to reach Buggs’ attorney were unsuccessful, Tucker is represented by public defenders who have yet to comment. Law enforcement officials continue their search for the remaining two suspects involved in the case.
District Attorney Larry Krasner urged anyone connected to the shooting to surrender themselves to authorities. “If you are involved, then get smart. Turn yourself in, it’s exactly what happened with one person involved. It’s the smart thing for you to do,” he said.
“We will capture the remaining persons involved in the shooting whether on our terms or as safely facilitated by the shooters’ family members or acquaintances,” said Eric Gartner with the U.S. Marshals Service.
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Police are looking into whether the mass shooting is linked to the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Dayemen Taylor, a student at Imhotep Charter High School. Taylor was shot at a SEPTA bus stop in Ogontz a week ago Monday, along with two other students and two bus passengers who were injured.
Northeast High School students went back to in-person classes on Monday after the shooting. They had switched to virtual learning last week after the violence. Imhotep students also returned for in-person classes on Monday, their first time back since their classmate was killed.
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