Second 14-year-old arrested in connection with Dilworth Park shooting
The teen, whom police did not identify because he is a juvenile, was charged with aggravated assault and related crimes.
A second 14-year-old was arrested Wednesday morning in connection with the shooting at Dilworth Park that wounded three teens, including one who is fighting for his life, police said.
Police served search and arrest warrants at 6 a.m. at the teen’s home, said Deputy Police Commissioner Frank Vanore. The teen, whom police did not identify because he is a juvenile, was charged with aggravated assault and related crimes, he said.
Police do not believe the teen is the shooter, said Vanore. Police are searching for another 14-year-old they believe was involved in the shooting and have issued an arrest warrant for that teen’s arrest.
The gunfire erupted shortly after 4:30 p.m. Friday at Christmas Village at City Hall, right next to the Rothman Orthopaedics Ice Rink, as shoppers and holiday revelers milled about the plaza, police said.
A disagreement between teens at Freire Charter School at 20th and Chestnut Streets earlier in the day made its way over to the busy Christmas Village, and erupted in gunfire when one of the teens pulled out a gun and fired four to five shots, police said.
Three teens were injured: A 14-year-old boy was shot in the face and remained in critical condition Wednesday. Two other boys, 14 and 15, were shot in the legs and were in stable condition.
The conflict started when the 14-year-old victim stuck up for his younger brother, who was getting picked on, Vanore said. The boy who was shot has undergone multiple surgeries, Vanore said, and was “fighting for his life.”
The shooter remains at large, police said. Another 14-year-old was charged Friday with aggravated assault and related crimes in connection with the shooting, though police do not believe he fired the shots.
At a news conference Monday, officials reassured residents of their safety in Center City. Dilworth Park alone has more than 30 cameras and dozens of security personnel, they said.