8 people wounded in mass shooting at a South Philadelphia bar

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Eight people were wounded in a mass shooting early Saturday morning at a South Philadelphia bar.

It happened around 3:50 a.m. outside the 7 Elements Restaurant Bar and Lounge on the 1100 block of South 11th Street.

Police say the gunfire erupted after a physical altercation on an exterior balcony.

All of the victims, including two 25-year-old women, a 27-year-old woman, a 28-year-old man, a 30-year-old man, a 42-year-old man and two 43-year-old men, are hospitalized in stable condition.

Police say two of the victims were security guards.

"I did hear popping, but I thought it was fireworks. Because it's 4th of July and I didn't what's going on so I didn't pay no attention," said Tom O'Hara who lives nearby.

"It's sad man, you don't want to see this around your neighborhood. I'm trying to go to work and see police cars lined up on bike lanes I'm like what happening," said Henry Zhang, who also lives in the neighborhood.

Investigators are now working to figure out exactly what was happening when the gunfire erupted.

"This business should not be open that late, and upon arrival it was shut, and we had to ensure there were no other victims inside," said Inspector D.F. Pace.

It's not yet clear how many people opened fire.

Police say they recovered a number of shell casings from the second-floor bar, the stairway that leads to the street, and more shell casings in the parking lot below.

Investigators tell Action News there are more than a dozen surveillance cameras in the shopping plaza that captured the incident from multiple angles.

Police are also using videos posted to social media as part of their investigation.

"We're not sure if those shell casings came from a gun that was fired above, or if the gunman or gunmen were firing even from the lower floors," Pace said.

No arrests have been made.

Employees with Philadelphia Department of Licenses and Inspections (L&I) were also on scene late Saturday morning.

"This bar was operating well past the legal 2 a.m. closing time. That is unacceptable. We cannot allow reckless business practices to endanger lives and destabilize neighborhoods," said At- Large Councilmember Dr. Nina Ahmad, "I applaud L&I for taking swift action to address 7 Elements' zoning and licensing violations."

The lounge ordered to cease operations for multiple code violations including improper smoking permits for the establishment, after hours and gambling.

"I didn't even know really it was a bar up there, but I always heard it," said O'Hara.

Authorities had originally said 11 people were shot, but they have since updated the number after realizing some of the victims were counted twice.

Anyone with information can call or text Philadelphia police at 215-686-TIPS (8477) or submit an anonymous tip online.