Teen charged with firing shots in crowd on Temple campus

A 15-year-old boy has been arrested for allegedly firing a gun into the air amid a large crowd of young people that gathered Saturday evening on Temple University’s main campus in North Philadelphia, police said Wednesday.

Authorities charged the suspect, whose name was not released due to his age, with firearm violations, theft and receiving stolen property, according to the PPD. Police said the shots did not strike anyone.

The teenager was apprehended Tuesday night after authorities searched a property on the 2700 block of N. Hancock Street in Fairhill and recovered a stolen handgun detectives believe was used in the incident, investigators said.

Hundreds of teenagers assembled at Broad Street and Cecil B. Moore Avenue on Saturday, for what Temple authorities have described as a “meet-up” organized through social media.

Campus police said several fights broke out before someone fired a shot into the air just before 6 p.m., causing people in the crowd to flee. Minutes later, and half a block away, a second shot rang out, according to authorities.

Based on a review of camera footage, investigators suspect the same person was responsible for both shots, Temple officials said.

Seven people between the ages of 13 and 16 were cited for disorderly conduct on the night of the incident, according to campus police.

Jennifer Griffin, Temple vice president and public safety chief, said in a message to students and staff Wednesday that there may be a similar meetup this Saturday.

“As soon as we became aware of the social media post, Temple Public Safety immediately made contact with the Philadelphia Police,” she wrote. “We have few details on the planned event, but we will continue to coordinate and work together to provide coverage and appropriate resources.”