4 Shot Including Children at West Philadelphia Recreation Center

A shooting at the Christy Recreation Center in West Philadelphia injured four people, including two children aged 10 and 11, a 16-year-old teenage boy in critical condition, and an adult city employee. The shooting occurred shortly after a fight that had broken out earlier at the rec center, with gunfire reported outside the pool area along 56th Street. The children were grazed by bullets and are in stable condition, while the teenager was shot twice in the back and remains hospitalized in critical condition. Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel, who grew up nearby, expressed personal pain over the incident, emphasizing that rec centers should be safe havens for youth and families. Mayor Cherelle Parker condemned the violence, highlighting the need to protect swimming pools and recreation centers, especially as they serve as safe spaces during the summer. No arrests have been made, and the investigation is ongoing, with authorities urging anyone with information to come forward.