Philadelphia police to boost presence in Fairmount Park after 2 killed, 9 wounded in Memorial Day mass shooting

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Philadelphia police will add extra patrols in Fairmount Park after a mass shooting on Memorial Day left two dead and nine others injured. Almost two dozen shell casings were found from three different weapons at the scene on Lemon Hill Drive.

Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel said even though officers were nearby, they don’t know if the violence was random or targeted.

“It could be just that quick of a trigger, ‘I saw the guy who did something to me, he sees me and we are both armed and are going to engage each other,’” Bethel said.

Police say 23-year-old Amya Devlin and 21-year-old Mikhail Bowers were killed. The injured range in age from 15 to 28 years old.

The incident happened quickly, and police say they are reviewing social media videos to identify suspects in the case.

Bethel said that while police will be increasing patrols, they won’t be looking to limit permits for gatherings in the park. He said the department needs to improve its intelligence about incidents that pop up.

“Right now, the intelligence is coming through our portal. It’s not fast enough,” Bethel said. “We need to evolve, and so we’re going to be putting in a number of different law enforcement assets into the park to identify activity ahead with the hope that we can stave off these activities before they occur.”

Mayor Cherelle Parker stressed that the violence will not be tolerated.

“We will not be held hostage by anyone who decides that they want to get assault-like, war-like weaponry,” she said. “There are no excuses for this. This is a heinous act of violence that was inhumane, no regard for life.”

Officials say at least one of the weapons was equipped with a “switch” designed to give the gun fully automatic shooting capacity.

Such weapon modifications have been a flashpoint in the discussion around gun ownership rights in America in recent years as their usage in mass shooting events has increased.

Earlier this month, the Trump administration allowed the sale of forced-reset triggers, which modify semiautomatic rifles to allow them to fire more rapidly, ending a federal ban as part of a settlement with Rare Breed Triggers.

However, as part of the settlement, the company agreed to not produce the product for “any handgun.” Such devices, which are sometimes called “switches,” are available via the internet and can be relatively easily installed.

Philadelphia banned devices that increase a gun’s rate of fire last year after one was allegedly used in a shooting where eight children were shot at a SEPTA bus stop in Burholme.

Parker said that everyone, especially parents and guardians, needs to help the city prevent a repeat of the incident.

“Parents need to know where their children are and what they are doing,” she said.

Officials also vowed to tighten security for the upcoming Roots Picnic to make sure people feel safe. More than 40 performers will take part in the event this weekend at the Mann Center in Fairmount Park.

Police say residents can call the city’s nonemergency 211 number to offer anonymous tips about any potential gatherings or violent events cropping up in their neighborhoods.