Five Philadelphia students were shot near a high school Tuesday, with one dead and at least one other in critical condition, according to the school district.
The shooting took place at around 4:30 p.m. near Gorgas Park, which is near Roxborough High School, following a junior varsity football scrimmage that included Roxborough, Northeast, and Boys Latin High Schools.
Christina Clark, a spokesperson for the school district, said the shooting did not take place inside the school, and all Roxborough parents have been notified about the incident.
Classes are expected to take place Wednesday at Roxborough, and the district’s crisis response team will be at the school to support students and staff.
Four of the students were taken to Einstein Medical Center after the shooting, while one was taken to Temple University Hospital.
Last year, Philadelphia recorded a record number of homicides, and gun violence in particular has had a traumatic effect on many students in the city. Gun violence is the leading cause of death among Philadelphia’s children over the age of 15.
On Monday, the city recorded its 400th homicide of 2022.
Bureau Chief Johann Calhoun covers K-12 schools and early childhood education in Philadelphia. He oversees Chalkbeat Philadelphia’s education coverage. Contact Johann at jcalhoun@chalkbeat.org.
