The intersection of 40th and Market streets on Feb. 5.
Credit: Abhiram JuvvadiThe Division of Public Safety issued a UPennAlert in response to gunshot reports at a store on 40th and Market streets around 9:30 p.m. on Friday.
A 21-year-old man suffered multiple gunshot wounds in the face and neck. He was transported to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 9:50 p.m., according to NBC News.
The Penn community received the first UPennAlert about the shooting at 9:43 p.m. which alerted “shots fired” and further stated, “use caution, police on scene, avoid area.” Approximately 30 minutes later, another alert deemed the area “all clear” and informed students that “police and Allied Security [were] patrolling the area.”
Vice President of the Division of Public Safety Kathleen Shields Anderson told The Daily Pennsylvanian that “one individual was shot multiple times inside a store on the south side of the 4000 block of Market Street.”
Neither of the UPennAlerts stated that the shooting had resulted in a death, though the DPS website reported additional details about the shooting.
“Upon arrival, Police discovered the complainant, who had been shot,” the DPS website read. “The unaffiliated complainant was transported to the hospital for treatment.”
According to the DPS website, witnesses described the suspect as wearing all dark clothing. NBC News added that the police believe the suspect was wearing gloves and a mask. The suspect was last seen heading westbound on Market Street.
No weapons were recovered from the scene and no arrests have been made. There is also no known motive yet.
Anderson said that the process for issuing UPennAlerts involves a “conference call with several supervisors and administrators.” In this case, the call was initiated after an emergency report of shots fired.
“Our primary focus is getting verified information out as quickly as possible for an ongoing danger for our community,” said Anderson.
DPS encouraged students to use their resources, such as Walking Escort, PennRides, and Penn Guardian.
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