A Memorial Day gathering at Philadelphia’s Fairmount Park turned violent on May 26, 2025, when multiple gunmen opened fire on crowds near Lemon Hill Drive, killing two young adults and wounding nine others.

The shooting occurred just before 10:30 p.m. on Monday evening, sending hundreds of people fleeing for safety as gunfire erupted during what had been a peaceful holiday celebration.

Twenty-three-year-old Amya Devlin and 21-year-old Mikhail Bowers were fatally shot during the incident. Nine other victims, ranging in age from 15 to 28, were transported to multiple hospitals throughout Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, including Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, Temple University Hospital, and Lankenau Medical Center. All surviving victims remain in stable condition.

Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel confirmed that investigators recovered 21 shell casings from three different weapons at the scene, indicating multiple shooters were involved. Further searches conducted Tuesday morning revealed approximately a dozen additional casings. The rapid-fire nature of the gunshots, captured in social media videos, led authorities to conclude that at least one weapon was equipped with an illegal “switch” device that converts semi-automatic handguns into fully automatic weapons.

Bethel described the weapon modification’s devastating impact during a Tuesday press conference. “This is war,” he stated, explaining how the device allows shooters to empty a magazine in seconds. The gunfire was so intense that witnesses described it as sounding like warfare.

The tragedy unfolded despite a police presence in the area. Officers had been called to Lemon Hill around 8:15 p.m. to address crowd concerns, working to disperse large gatherings of primarily young people. Park rangers had contacted police earlier in the evening, expressing concerns about the number of people gathered for Memorial Day celebrations. The shooting occurred as many attendees were beginning to pack up and leave for the evening.

Mayor Cherelle Parker addressed the community during a news conference Tuesday morning, calling the shooting a heinous act of violence. She emphasized that Philadelphia would not be held hostage by individuals using assault-style weapons and confirmed that three different shooters were involved based on the varying calibers of shell casings recovered. The mayor pledged to work with federal authorities, including the FBI, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and U.S. Marshals to bring the perpetrators to justice.

Among the wounded victims were six teenagers, with the youngest being 15-year-old Keishawn Jones, who was shot in the leg. Jones, a high school freshman who aspires to become a carpenter and build houses, represents the young lives affected by the violence. His mother, LaTasha Jones, expressed concern about how the shooting might derail her son’s future aspirations.

Bowers’ grandmother, Wander Bowers, remembered him as a happy-go-lucky young man who occasionally got into minor mischief but was otherwise perfect. A 19-year-old woman who knew Bowers described him as someone who “wouldn’t hurt a fly” and who took care of his family. She had hugged him earlier in the evening before the shooting occurred.

The violence occurred in the Lemon Hill area of Fairmount Park, a historic section near the Philadelphia Museum of Art and Philadelphia Zoo. The location, home to the Federal-style Lemon Hill Mansion built in 1800, is a popular gathering spot for cookouts and community events. The area is scheduled to host Philadelphia’s fan festival site during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where thousands of international soccer fans are expected to gather.

The Fairmount Park shooting represents one of the largest mass shootings in Philadelphia in recent years, tied for the second-largest since 2015. The incident follows a pattern of violence that has plagued the 2,052-acre park system. In June 2024, one person was killed and four others wounded in a shooting near the Strawberry Mansion neighborhood. In February 2025, a man and woman were shot and killed in what police described as an “execution style” shooting near Mount Pleasant Mansion.

Investigators are examining multiple social media videos that captured the shooting, with some footage showing the moment gunfire erupted and people running for safety. Sources within the police department indicate the investigation is exploring whether the shooting was targeted, though officials have not confirmed this publicly. Law enforcement sources suggest investigators are working to determine “who was going after whom.”

The chaos extended beyond the immediate shooting scene. During the pandemonium, at least one car crash occurred on nearby Sedgley Drive as people fled the area. Police discovered several abandoned vehicles in the vicinity, including a blue Dodge Challenger that had been reported stolen, though its connection to the shooting remains unclear.

Philadelphia’s response to gun violence has intensified following the shooting. Mayor Parker revealed that the city seized over 5,000 crime guns in 2024 and made more than 2,000 arrests for firearms violations. The city has allocated $25 million to anti-violence campaigns and created over 8,000 summer jobs for teenagers as part of violence prevention efforts.

The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office announced it is working collaboratively with local, state, and federal partners to investigate and prosecute the case. The office’s Gun Violence Task Force and Homicide & Non-Fatal Shooting Unit are leading the investigation, while community engagement teams have been deployed to provide resources and support to the affected Fairmount and Brewerytown neighborhoods.

Security concerns have emerged regarding upcoming events in Fairmount Park. The Roots Picnic, a two-day music festival scheduled for this weekend at the Mann Center within the park, will proceed with enhanced security measures. Commissioner Bethel assured the public that planned events with proper security preparations differ significantly from spontaneous gatherings like Monday’s Memorial Day celebration.

As of Tuesday evening, no arrests have been made and no weapons have been recovered. The investigation remains active, with authorities using metal detectors to search the expansive crime scene and examining social media posts that may provide leads. Police are encouraging anyone with information to contact the Philadelphia Police tipline at 215-686-TIPS.

The shooting occurred during a violent Memorial Day weekend across the United States. According to the Gun Violence Archive, at least five mass shootings took place nationwide between Friday evening and Monday night, with incidents reported in Colorado Springs, Colorado; Little River, South Carolina; and Jackson, Tennessee.

Commissioner Bethel announced plans to deploy additional officers throughout Fairmount Park beginning this weekend, with the goal of identifying potential issues before they escalate into violence. The enhanced deployment represents the department’s attempt to prevent similar tragedies in one of the nation’s largest urban park systems.