Philadelphia police say several people faced arrest and others received citations after a teen takeover rocked Center City on Sunday, marking the second consecutive night of incidents in the area.
Witness Describes the Chaos
Jimmy Freeman, of Logan, witnessed the entire situation unfold and captured it on his Meta glasses. He told Action News that hundreds of teenagers descended on the area around Dilworth Park just as the Made in Philadelphia Summer Market was wrapping up.
“All the vendors were out. Tents were everywhere. They were just breaking up. And as they were breaking up the tents and the stuff, all this chaos started happening. It was just wild. You would have to be here to experience it.”
Video Freeman shared shows police responding to crowds as fights broke out. One clip captures officers attending to a person who had fallen to the ground. Philadelphia police say they plan to use videos circulating on social media as part of their investigation.
Arrests and Citations
According to police, Sunday’s arrests included:
- One arrest for having a firearm
- One arrest for robbery
- One arrest for disorderly conduct
Seven additional citations were issued for disorderly conduct.
Gunfire in the Crowd
Jonathan Dunleavy, of Queen Village, said he was heading to his girlfriend’s home when he stumbled into the chaos.
“We had flash mobs when I was this age. Never like this. Never in Center City.”
Dunleavy said he heard a gunshot in the midst of the commotion.
“I heard, ‘Yo, he’s got a gun!’ So I stopped and turned and heard pop pop.”
Philadelphia police say that after the gunshot rang out, they spotted a young man placing something into a backpack. A foot chase followed, and when officers caught up with him, they recovered a handgun loaded with 37 rounds.
Monday Night and Increased Patrols
Following Sunday’s events, Philadelphia police boosted patrols around City Hall and other parts of Center City on Monday. Despite the added presence, groups of teenagers still filled the area. Action News witnessed several arrests and saw an officer walking away from one scuffle with a bloodied face.
Action News has reached out to Philadelphia police for additional information about Monday’s arrests. The outlet has also contacted the office of Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker for comment and is awaiting a response.