A 36-year-old Philadelphia Highway Patrol officer suffered a forehead abrasion, and a 44-year-old deputy Montgomery County Sheriff suffered a gunshot wound to the shoulder, according to Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw.
Both officers were securing security at a July 4 concert on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway when shots were fired at around 9:47 p.m., just before the fireworks went off, Outlaw said.
Neither officer heard the shots before they were hit, they added.
“We don’t know if this bounced off celebratory gunfire, we don’t know if this was intentional,” Outlaw said. “We’re just immensely grateful that this wasn’t worse than it was.”
The officers were taken to Jefferson University Hospital, treated and discharged, Outlaw said.
Social media video of the incident, apparently filmed from a nearby building, shows large crowds of people running along Benjamin Franklin Parkway as lights from police cars and emergency vehicles flash into the street.
No arrests have been made so far and no suspects are in custody. Police said they were following several leads and asked the public to come forward if they have any information about the shooting or video footage of what happened.
Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney said the day had been “laid back, chill,” with good weather and a pleasant concert.
“But we live in America, and we have the Second Amendment, and we have the United States Supreme Court telling everyone they can carry a gun wherever they want,” he said. “We have to live with this.”
“If I had the opportunity to provide weapons, I would. But the legislature will not allow us, the US Congress will not allow us,” he added. “This is a gun country.”
This is a story in development and will be updated.