A mass shooting erupted early Saturday morning inside a South Philadelphia bar, leaving eight people wounded and police scrambling to identify multiple gunmen.
At a Glance
- Eight people were shot at 7 Elements Restaurant Bar and Lounge early Saturday.
- The incident occurred just after 3:50 a.m. following Fourth of July festivities.
- Victims include a security guard shot in the face and a woman hit in the back.
- Investigators recovered shell casings from the second floor and stairwell.
- No arrests have been made; surveillance footage is under review.
Chaos Erupts at South Philly Bar
Gunfire broke out at the 7 Elements Restaurant Bar and Lounge around 3:50 a.m. on July 5, according to Philadelphia police. The bar, located on the 1100 block of South 11th Street, had just closed when multiple shooters opened fire.
Authorities found bullet casings scattered across the second floor, stairwell, and exterior parking lot, suggesting the attackers moved through multiple levels. One of the victims, a security guard, was shot in the face; another woman was struck in the back. Two remain in critical condition, though all eight are expected to survive, police said.
Watch a report: Mass Shooting Inside South Philadelphia Bar.
No Suspects, No Motive, Rising Fear
No arrests have been made, and police have yet to determine how many shooters were involved. Investigators are combing through surveillance footage and interviewing witnesses in hopes of identifying suspects.
The shooting adds to a wave of holiday weekend violence nationwide. According to AP News, multiple cities saw mass shootings between July 4 and 5, including incidents in Chicago and Indianapolis. While Philadelphia recorded no deaths in this incident, the eight injuries meet the federal threshold for classification as a mass shooting.
What Comes Next
Police are urging anyone with information to contact the Philadelphia tip line at 215-686-TIPS. The shooting has reignited concerns about gun violence in nightlife venues and the challenges of crowd control during high-traffic holidays. Investigators are now focused on reconstructing the timeline, identifying the shooters, and preventing a potential repeat in a city already on edge.
