A Memorial Day picnic at Philadelphia’s Fairmount Park was transformed into an act of terror and tragedy when a group of gunman sprayed bullets into a crowd of around 1,000 celebrants, fatally shooting two young adults and wounding nine others, including a group of teenagers. The shooting, which happened around 10:27 p.m. on Lemon Hill Drive, has stunned the city and again fueled debates over gun violence and public safety in the city and the country.
The shooting was in Fairmount Park in Philadelphia, the 800 block of Lemon Hill Drive near Poplar Drive, a public area. On Monday evening, May 26, 2025, at 10:27 p.m., 9th District police officers already on the scene to manage a crowd heard a flurry of gunfire. Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel reported that “a number of rounds” into the crowd found 11 shooting victims, including juveniles. Witnesses described the occurrence of a potential drive-by, with over 75 rounds of gunfire that caused panic, multiple injuries, and several auto accidents when viewers scurried from the area. The quick succession of gunfire implies that at least one of the weapons was equipped with a “switch,” a piece of gear that makes a semi-automatic weapon fully automatic and enables multiple rounds to discharge within a few seconds.
The deceased have been confirmed by the Philadelphia Police to include a 23-year-old woman, Amya Devlin, and a 21-year-old man, Mikhail Bowers. Both of them were declared dead at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center a few moments after the shooting at 10:43 p.m. and 11:07 p.m., respectively. Nine others aged 15 to 28 suffered gunshot wounds and were admitted in stable conditions to nearby hospitals, including the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Temple University Hospital, and Lankenau Medical Center.
Mayor Cherelle Parker denounced the shooting as a “heinous act of violence” that demonstrated
“inhumane disregard for life.”
“We can’t be held hostage by assault-style, war-style weapons. guns with switches,”
she stressed. Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel, speaking to reporters Tuesday morning, confirmed the rapid firing and indicated that police were already in the park dispersing crowds when the shooting happened.
“We know at least one firearm was used that was outfitted with a switch, making it fully automatic,”
Bethel explained, noting the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives involvement due to suspected use of a switch. The shooters themselves escaped police capture, and no weapons have been found.
Through May 27, 2025, the case was still under investigation with no suspects identified or anyone under arrest. The Philadelphia Police are studying surveillance videos, social media activity, and 911 calls for evidence. About 21 shell casings of three different calibers were discovered, which indicated a minimum of three shooters. A crashed Hyundai found near the scene is being examined for potential relevance, though its connection remains unclear. Commissioner Bethel noted the crime scene’s complexity, stating,
“It’s a very large scene. We’ll be here until daylight to capture all evidence”.
He urged the public to provide information, emphasizing,
“We need the community’s help to bring those responsible to justice.”
Philadelphia experienced 91 homicides in 2025, the lowest number since 2014, down by a considerable amount from the 268 homicides that occurred in 2024. While there has been improvement, incidents like the shooting on Lemon Hill remind us of continuing challenges. Nationally, over 120 mass shootings have occurred in 2025, with the Gun Violence Archive reporting 117 as of April 30. Memorial Day weekend was filled with more shootings in Alexandria, Virginia; Chicago, Illinois; and Jackson, Tennessee, highlighting the country’s widespread problem of gun violence.
The shooting has elicited broad shock and dismay, with citizens flooding platforms like X with calls to action and calls for increased gun control. The Twitter account @PhillyCrimeUpd, was one of the first to break the news, raising public interest. The public has raised concerns over the enforcement of permits for large gatherings and the quality of security in public places like Fairmount Park, where public gatherings are often hosted.
“We cannot let our public spaces and parks turn into battlegrounds. It’s time to act before there is any further senseless violence,”
one community organiser said. The preparations are already underway to hold vigils and rallies to remember the victims and to protest against the violence. It represents a community that wants to heal and also avert another tragedy.