A Memorial Day gathering at Philadelphia’s Fairmount Park turned deadly 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 around 10:27 p.m. in the 800 block of Lemon Hill Drive, near the Lemon Hill mansion, according to Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel.
The victims killed were identified as Amya Devlin, 23, and Mikhail Bowers, 21, who were pronounced dead at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center. Nine additional victims, ranging in age from 15 to 28 years old, were transported to multiple hospitals including Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, Temple University Hospital and Lankenau Medical Center. All wounded victims were reported in stable condition.
The injured victims included three juveniles: a 15-year-old boy shot in the thigh, a 16-year-old girl shot in the thigh, and a 17-year-old girl shot in the leg. Adult victims sustained gunshot wounds to various parts of their bodies, including an 18-year-old woman shot in the foot, a 19-year-old woman shot in the head, another 19-year-old woman shot in the hand, a 20-year-old man shot in the arm, a 23-year-old woman shot in the nose, and a 28-year-old man shot in the arm. One additional person was hospitalized after being struck by a vehicle during the chaos that followed the gunfire.
Mayor Cherelle Parker confirmed that initially, investigators believed three shooters were involved in the attack. Parker indicated that three different types of shell casings were discovered at the scene, leading authorities to conclude multiple weapons were used. In subsequent statements, they updated the suspects to five possible shooters. At least 21 shell casings were initially recovered, with approximately a dozen more found during subsequent searches.
Investigators determined that at least one weapon was illegally modified with a device known as a “switch,” which converts a semi-automatic firearm into a fully automatic weapon. Bethel expressed confidence that a switch was used based on the rapid rate of fire captured in social media videos. “You cannot fire that many levels of bullets with such speed and time without it having some type of switch on it,” Bethel said.
Police officers were already present in the area when the shooting occurred, having been called around 8:15 p.m. to manage large crowds gathered in the park for Memorial Day activities. Bethel indicated that officers were still working to clear people from the area when the gunfire erupted, with law enforcement positioned approximately 100 feet away from where the shooting took place.
Authorities are examining multiple social media videos that captured the incident, including content posted on TikTok that recorded the sounds of gunfire. Law enforcement sources suggested the investigation is exploring whether the shooting was targeted, though Bethel has not publicly confirmed this direction. Several vehicles were abandoned at the scene, including a blue Dodge that had been reported stolen, though its connection to the shooting remains unclear.
The shooting has raised concerns about security for upcoming events in Fairmount Park, with Bethel announcing plans to increase the police presence in the park and implement new deployment strategies to identify potential threats before they escalate.
Parker characterized the shooting as a heinous act of violence and vowed to utilize all available federal and local resources to apprehend those responsible. The mayor emphasized the city’s commitment to combating gun violence, noting that Philadelphia police seized over 5,000 crime guns and made more than 2,000 firearms violations arrests in the previous year.
Family members of the victims have begun sharing memories of their loved ones. Mikhail Bowers’ grandmother, Wander Bowers, described him as a happy-go-lucky child who was perfect despite occasional mischief. A friend of Bowers who returned to the park to retrieve her scooter described him as a good person who took care of his family and would not hurt anyone.
Among the wounded was Keishawn Jones, 15, who sustained a leg injury. His mother indicated that the high school freshman, who enjoys sports and carpentry, now faces uncertainty about his future aspirations following the Memorial Day tragedy. The teenager had plans to build houses and was looking forward to his future before the shooting occurred.
No arrests have been made in connection with the shooting, and no weapons have been recovered from the scene. The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office announced it is working with local, state and federal partners to investigate and prosecute those responsible for the violence. The FBI is assisting with the ongoing investigation.
The incident occurred at a popular location in the park where Memorial Day cookouts and gatherings are common. Witnesses described the event as a large gathering with approximately 1,000 attendees when the shooting began. The area where the shooting took place was not well-lit at the time of the incident, according to police officials.