Police responded to reports of two fellow officers being shot near the Benjamin Franklin Parkway as thousands of people celebrated a Fourth of July concert and fireworks show. One officer suffered a head wound and the other was shot in the right shoulder, sources told NBC10’s Rosemary Connors. Both were in stable condition at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, the sources said. The shooting erupted around 9:47 p.m. near the Philadelphia Museum of Art on the final day of the Wawa Welcome America festival, as crowds of people watched a fireworks show following a concert headlined by Jason Derulo in the park, police said. The shots came from the area near 25th and Spring Garden streets, behind where the concert was held, Connors sources said. Several people could be seen running from the area. Police instructed people in nearby buildings to evacuate. “I didn’t hear the shots, but the officers were like, ‘Run, run, run,’” one woman told NBC10. NBC10 had several reporters in the area covering the festival. NBC10 reporter Leah Uko reported a “wilderness” of people running toward the concert stage. He said he helped three people onto the stage and hid behind a DJ stand. A man speaking with the show’s director then instructed them to stay there until it was safe enough to “quickly return” to their vehicles, Uko said. NBC10’s Tim Furlong said he saw a “wave of people” running from near Eakins Oval under the park. Several children were crying in moments of confusion from the crowd and officers at the scene, Furlong said. Fellow journalist Karen Hua reported that she was lying on the dirt inside a tent with other people. “We built a fort around us with catering equipment. Everyone is crying or screaming,” Hua tweeted. The Philadelphia Police Department directed those wishing to be reunited with loved ones to meet at 1901 Vine St. in front of the Free Library of Philadelphia. Anyone else was asked to stay away. This is a developing story and will be updated.
