After a stretch of violence involving kids, heartbreak strikes again. Tuesday night, a teenager was shot at a rec center, a place meant for safety and fun. Plus, new video shows the terrifying moments gunfire erupted at a different rec center over the weekend. NBC10’s Aaron Baskerville reports.
An investigation is underway after an 18-year-old was shot at a rec center in Philadelphia Tuesday.
According to the Philadelphia Police Department, the incident happened at 5:42 p.m. on April 1, 2025, at Lonnie Young Recreation Center located on the 1100 block of East Chelten Avenue.
Police said an 18-year-old man suffered gunshot wounds to the chest. He was transported to the hospital by police, where he was listed in critical condition.
"There were a group of believe juveniles that may have been engaged in a fight. At this point in time, it appears it may have been a few females that may have been involved in the fight. At some point in time, there are other individuals that come into the rec center here and begin to engage in the fight as well," First Deputy Commissioner John M. Stanford shared regarding preliminary information the department has gathered so far.
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"Still preliminary in what we have, but there may be up to two different shooters that may have been shooting at each other against the information that we're trying to verify," Stanford added.
SkyForce10 was over the scene, and crime tape could be seen around the playground as officers investigated.
There are additional resources for people or communities that have endured gun violence in Philadelphia. Further information can be found here.
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This shooting happened right as city leaders held an emergency meeting Tuesday evening on rec center safety following a stretch of four days in which multiple teenagers were shot in Philadelphia.
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