4 students shot near Philly’s Overbrook High School: Police

This story originally appeared on 6abc.

Four Overbrook High School students were shot late Wednesday morning right as the school was dismissing early, according to police.

The shooting happened at about 11:30 a.m. near the intersection of 60th and Oxford streets, about a block from the school, outside of The Beauty Lounge.

According to police, people inside a silver Hyundai SUV began firing at a group of people standing on the corner.

Officers in the area for school dismissal heard the shots, responded to the area and began to take the victims to local hospitals.

Two 15-year-old female students and two 16-year-old male students were shot, police said. The teen girls are sisters.

All four students were taken to area hospitals where they were listed in stable condition.

Video and photos from the scene showed police officers and police tape outside The Beauty Lounge.

The door to the business appeared to be shot out and a bullet hole could be seen in a window.

On Wednesday evening, officers said the silver Hyundai SUV had been located and was towed.

Following the shooting, Mayor Jim Kenney issued the following statement: “I am heartbroken by yet another act of violence against students. Violence of any kind is simply unacceptable, and it is unconscionable that anyone would jeopardize young people by firing a gun in the vicinity of a school. I am thankful that all victims are stable and nobody was killed. Our administration will work with the School District to support the Overbrook High School community, and with law enforcement to ensure the perpetrators are found and held accountable.”

At a news conference Wednesday afternoon, school leaders were fed up and fired up.

“We’re allowing people to walk around with guns and do whatever the hell they want in the city. Until we take on this problem and address this, we’re going to continue to come here. So, we can continue to meet like this but it’s unacceptable. We could have lost a child today,” said Kevin Bethel, chief safety officer for the school district.

Superintendent Dr. Tony Watlington said the district is already strengthening their safety plan, including hiring more officers.

“We’re going to have some real serious help to get our arms around our city problem with these guns,” he said.

School leaders also point to parents, who they say need to do more to hold their kids accountable and keep them away from guns.

“It’s a parent problem, too. Folks need to go in their rooms and check to see what their kids are doing. Many of them I think know what they’re doing,” said Bethel.

The Turkey Bowl game scheduled for Thanksgiving morning between Overbrook High School and West Philadelphia High School was canceled due to the violence.

The city is offering a $10,000 award for tips that lead to arrest and conviction for shootings near schools, recreation centers and libraries. Anyone with information is asked to call 215-686-TIPS.

The Philadelphia Police Department and the Office of School Safety are investigating.

There was no immediate information on a possible motive.