Fight sparked mass shooting at Philadelphia block party, police say

A mass shooting in West Philadelphia on Sunday began as a fight before escalating into a "gun battle" that killed three people and wounded six others, police say.

The big picture: It's at least the third mass shooting in Philadelphia this year that occurred at a large outside gathering.

The latest: More than 100 people were at an unsanctioned block party in Carroll Park, a serene part of the city where gun violence is uncommon , when shots broke out around 2am, city officials said during a news conference Monday.

• The organizers hadn't secured a permit to host the party, so police didn't know about the gathering and hadn't assigned officers to patrol the area, Mayor Cherelle Parker said.

State of play: No arrests have been made so far, but police believe at least three shooters fired three dozen rounds into the crowd after an argument escalated at the event, police commissioner Kevin Bethel said.

• Police have provided few details about suspects or what sparked the fight as an investigation is underway.

Zoom in: Two brothers were killed in the shooting: 33-year-old Akil Jones and 29-year-old Rashie Jones, police said. The third victim was identified as Sekayi Robinson, 23.

• Most of the individuals wounded in the shooting were treated at the hospital and released, but two remain hospitalized.
• Three guns were recovered in connection to the shooting.

What they're saying: Parker blamed a "wild, wild west-like culture" for fueling the violence, and promised authorities would be "relentless" in their pursuit of the shooters.

• She said her administration is committed to making residents feel safe in their neighborhoods, but warned it's imperative for Philadelphians to secure permits when hosting large events.
• "We can't make good on our promise to you if you won't follow the process that's established."

Between the lines: Police have already rejected dozens of applications for block parties this year, citing the potential for " criminal activity ."

• On the Fourth of July, 19-year-old Maurice Quann was killed by a shooter who fired into the crowd at a pop-up party he was hosting in Kingsessing. Bethel decried such pop-up gatherings, and promised to crack down on them this summer.

Zoom out: Homicide and shootings are down in the city by staggering margins in 2024, but Sunday's mass shooting makes those gains feel hollow, city officials said.