After eight people were hurt in a shooting at a South Philadelphia lounge early Saturday, the city has moved to revoke the establishment’s business license, officials said.
According to police, the city’s Department of Licenses and Inspections revoked the business license for 7 Elements lounge, located along Washington Avenue in South Philadelphia, due to “violations” after eight people were hurt in a shooting there.
“In response to the mass shooting incident in South Philadelphia early this morning, the Office of Public Safety immediately deployed our RAPID Response protocol and is still actively engaged through several divisions today,” said Chief Public Safety Director Adam Geer in a statement released on Saturday. “In this case, one of our first actions was to work directly with L&I to immediately revoke the business’ operating license for violations. In addition, the Community Crisis Intervention Program is directly engaging with those affected, including gunshot victims, and the Office of the Victim Advocate has provided crime scene clean-up services and is distributing literature about services to neighboring businesses. Our EMIR Healing Center, Town Watch Integrated Services and Faith-based Affairs Office have also been activated. Finally, the 211 Anti-Violence Hotline is deploying automated text alerts to residents within the affected area code, ensuring timely dissemination of critical information. Anyone can call 211 and press Option 2 for resources if you need support or assistance.”
Police said that a shooting happened at the lounge at about 3:53 a.m. on Saturday after an argument broke out outside the lounge.
The argument escalated into a fight involving knives before, police said, shooting erupted on a second-floor balcony.
Police arrived to find the evidence of gunfire and blood leading out of the establishment, but found the doors locked when they first arrived at the scene, officials said.
Because they weren’t immediately able to enter the building, officials said, officers were initially unsure how many people may have been injured in the shooting.
But, after accessing the structure, police found no other victims.
Overall, officers transported four people to the hospital after the incident and, officials said, four other victims were taken to hospitals by private vehicles.
All of the victims in this incident, officials said, were listed in stable condtion.
Police have not yet provided further information on those injured, nor have they said how many suspects may be sought in this incident or if any arrests have yet been made.
But, officials said, a security guard told police that they fired a weapon during the course of the incident.
An investigation, officials said, is ongoing.