In a press briefing on Monday, Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel announced that two out of the four suspects sought in connection with the shooting that wounded eight Northeast High School students are now in custody.
Bethel revealed that both 18-year-old suspects, Jamaal Tucker and Ahnile Buggs, were apprehended over the weekend and formally charged. District Attorney Larry Krasner specified that Tucker and Buggs are facing charges including attempted murder, aggravated assault, conspiracy, possession of an instrument of crime, simple assault, and additional offenses.
Tucker voluntarily surrendered himself to the police last Friday, as stated by Frank Vanore, Deputy Commissioner of Investigations with the Philadelphia Police Department. Meanwhile, Ahnile Buggs was apprehended by U.S. Marshals on Saturday in West Philly.
Authorities suspect that Buggs and Tucker were among the four individuals inside the stolen Hyundai responsible for firing over 30 shots at a SEPTA bus stop located at Rising Sun and Cottman avenues last week, resulting in the injury of eight Northeast High students.
While the police have refrained from disclosing the specific roles of Buggs and Tucker in the shooting, they are encouraging anyone with information about the incident to come forward or contact law enforcement to aid in the apprehension of those involved.
According to police reports, the students who were shot ranged in age from 15 to 17 years old. Among them, a 16-year-old sustained nine gunshot wounds and was initially in critical condition.
However, Deputy Commissioner Vanore has confirmed that the condition of the 16-year-old has since improved to stable, and investigators intend to interview the teenager on Monday.
Prior to the incident on Wednesday, a shooting at a SEPTA bus stop in Ogontz resulted in the tragic death of 17-year-old Dayemen Taylor, a student at Imhotep Institute Charter High School.
Commissioner Bethel mentioned a potential connection between Monday’s shootings and this incident, but emphasized that police were not yet ready to confirm this link, stating that investigations are ongoing.
To aid in the investigation, the FBI, ATF, and U.S. Marshals are providing assistance to the Philadelphia police. Bethel described the situation as a ‘heinous crime’ that demands a comprehensive and concerted effort from law enforcement.
In the aftermath of the Northeast Philadelphia shooting, police swiftly located a stolen Hyundai believed to be the getaway vehicle, along with another stolen car in the Olney section of the city.
Deputy Commissioner Vanore explained that following the recovery of these vehicles, police intensified their investigation, gathering additional evidence and identifying suspects.
Subsequently, on Friday, law enforcement executed search warrants at multiple locations, yielding further evidence and prompting Tucker to surrender himself to authorities.
Vanore elaborated that on Saturday, with assistance from the U.S. Marshals, police executed another search warrant, leading to the apprehension of Buggs.
At the site of the search warrant, Vanore reported the discovery of a ’40 caliber Glock 22 pistol equipped with an extended magazine,’ which was found to be ‘fully loaded.’ Additionally, the pistol was equipped with a laser sight and a ‘Glock switch,’ indicating it was modified to be fully automatic.
Vanore mentioned that the recovered firearm matched the ballistic evidence from multiple shell casings found at the scene of the shooting at Rising Sun and Cottman avenues.
We’re not finished,” Vanore emphasized. “There are other individuals we need to reach out to. We have their identities. Our investigation will continue not only targeting these individuals but the entire group. Anyone who may have assisted them will also face scrutiny.
“Mayor Cherelle Parker acknowledges the concerns voiced by Philadelphia residents following a violent week in the city. With four separate shootings involving SEPTA and a total of 11 juveniles wounded, Parker reassured the community of her commitment to delivering justice. She emphasized the city’s unwavering determination, promising an unapologetic pursuit of those responsible.
I’ve heard your fears and concerns about riding SEPTA,” Mayor Parker reassured. “You’ve expressed worries about going to work, school, or even just to the store for medicine. I want you to know that I hear you. To the people of our city, we want to convey that we are unapologetic about leveraging every available partner to assist us during these challenging times.”
Earlier on Monday, Parker and Bethel visited Northeast High School and spoke with the mother of a student who was shot. Reflecting on the encounter, Bethel remarked, “It was difficult to see.”
“Gun violence doesn’t merely leave physical scars; it fractures our community,” Bethel emphasized. “It affects our schools, our families, and generates a ripple effect of fear and trauma.
At Monday’s press conference, Commissioner Bethel made a point of commending Officer Christian Rodriguez from the 2nd Police District in Northeast Philadelphia. Bethel recounted how Rodriguez swiftly applied two tourniquets to a wounded teenager during the shooting incident. Additionally, Rodriguez’s partner also applied a tourniquet, underscoring their quick and effective response in potentially saving the child’s life.
When he went to the hospital the doctor would say, ‘That tourniquet would ultimately help to save that child’s life,'” Bethel said.
After spending the previous week engaged in virtual learning, students at Northeast High School began returning to in-person classrooms on Monday. The phased approach entails juniors and seniors attending in-person classes while freshmen and sophomores continue with virtual instruction. This pattern will reverse on Tuesday, March 12, with juniors and seniors transitioning back to virtual learning as freshmen and sophomores return to the school building.
Principal Omar Crowder conveyed to families that this phased return aims to offer more personalized support and individualized attention to students.
To aid students coping with the recent events, crisis counselors will be available at the school throughout the week to provide grief counseling and emotional support as needed. Additionally, there will be a heightened police presence in the vicinity of the school to ensure safety.
SEPTA Police is also stepping up patrols on bus routes near Northeast High School and will have additional staff remotely monitoring bus cameras to enhance security measures.
