Roxborough High School student Randy Mills killed in SEPTA bus shooting. (Source : 6abc.com)
Randy Mills was fatally shot on a SEPTA bus, and Philadelphia police have released CCTV footage of the perpetrator and a person of interest. Authorities claim that a recently released police video captures the moment a SEPTA passenger drew a gun and fired at a teenager. Keep reading to know more about the SEPTA bus shooting incident in detail.
SEPTA bus shooting:
Police in Philadelphia have made available CCTV footage of a suspect and a person of interest about the fatal shooting of a juvenile on a SEPTA bus. The victim has been identified by authorities as Philadelphia resident Randy Mills, 15 years old. He was a Roxborough High School student.
This is the recently published footage that features the suspect:
According to SEPTA police, the shooter boarded the Route 23 bus wearing a full-face mask and a sweatshirt in the city’s Germantown neighborhood at about 10:45 p.m. on Wednesday.
Investigators said that Mills and the shooter were sitting across from one another near the front of the bus.
Authorities claim that when the bus was travelling down the 5200 block of Germantown Avenue, the shooter and Mills got into a verbal quarrel that quickly escalated into a physical altercation. The shooter then fled after firing two rounds. At the time, there were eight people riding the bus.
When the police arrived, they discovered Mills bleeding and lifeless in the aisle. He was declared dead once he arrived at the hospital. The 52-year-old SEPTA driver told police she dove and opened the bus doors when she heard the gunfire, and according to police, a bullet just missed her.
SEPTA’s chief Statement
Less than 24 hours later, authorities are now making preparations to ensure the safety of riders. Charles Lawson, chief of transit police for SEPTA, stated that “this is a violent time in this city.” Lawson made it clear on Thursday that the violence frustrates him and that this trend is occurring far too frequently.
In the wake of the fatal shooting, he said that undercover detectives will henceforth attempt to go on buses as frequently as possible going forward. Additionally, the shooter responsible is being sought after.
Lawson said,
“We’re going to use all that video evidence to affect an arrest and we will not stop. We will not stop looking for you because we know you’ll be back, and when you come back to take the next trip, be looking over your shoulder because we are coming.”
The CEO of SEPTA stated that he wants people to understand that if they use SEPTA, they are captured on hundreds of cameras.
According to Lawson, SEPTA is now updating all of its systems to real-time surveillance and is planning to add transit police in plain clothing as an additional layer of security.
Face masks are a concern and are prohibited on SEPTA trains, according to Lawson, who added that anyone wearing them will be asked to take them off or escorted off the premises.
$20,000 Reward
There is currently a $20,000 reward on the table for information that results in an arrest and conviction. In addition, police are looking for any further potential witnesses to the crime as well as a person of interest shown in the video.
Police are requesting that anybody who may have seen the shooting call them. Do not approach this suspect if you see him; instead, call 911 right away. Text a tip to 215-686-8477 or call 215-686-8477 to leave a tip over the phone. To anonymously submit a tip, use this internet form.
Every tip will remain confidential. Please get in touch with Det. Blackwell or Det. Campbell with the Homicide Unit at 215-686-3334 or 215-686-3335 if you have any information regarding this incident or this suspect.
Roxborough High School mourns the death of Randy Mills
164 kids have been victims of violence since the start of the school year, according to startling numbers revealed this week by the Philadelphia School District. There have been 23 fatalities.
According to a representative for the Philadelphia School District, Mills attends Roxborough High School. Friday, students at Roxborough High School had access to grief counsellors.
The school district said in a statement,
“We wish to extend our deepest sympathies and heartfelt thoughts to the family and friends of the young Roxborough High School student whose life was tragically cut short Wednesday. We condemn the senseless gun violence in Philadelphia – a years-long crisis that continues to have lasting impacts on our children and their families,”
“We are committed to working together with the Mayor’s Office, City Council, the business community and other Philadelphians who share the urgent need to eradicate gun violence in our city.”
The school is still open, and there will be grief counsellors there on Friday for the affected pupils. Additionally, Kooth, a firm, provides free internet counselling for families.
Previous Shooting Incidents
Five students were shot as they left the football pitch at Roxborough High School only last autumn. Nicolas Elizalde, age 14, passed away. On September 27, 2022, just as a junior varsity football game between Roxborough High School, Northeast High School, and Boys Latin Charter School came to a finish, a shooting erupted in the 4700 block of Pechin Street close to Roxborough High School.
After being shot, Elizalde of Havertown, Pennsylvania, passed away from his wounds. He was a freshman at Saul High School and a Roxborough football player. According to the police, the suspects waited six minutes before exiting the SUV and firing more than 60 rounds.
Yaaseen Bivins, age 21, Saleem Miller, age 16, Troy Fletcher, age 15, and Zyhied Jones, age 17, have all been detained in connection with the incident. Dayron Burney-Thorn, a 17-year-old, is still at large.
The reward for information that results in his arrest is $50,000. The murder suspect from last Wednesday is still at large. Police are asking anyone with information to contact them at 215-686-TIPS.
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