3 shot and 5 in custody after gunfire disrupts Philadelphia Eid event, police say

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A joyful celebration of the end of Ramadan devolved into panic Wednesday in Philadelphia after rival groups exchanged gunfire, leaving at least three people injured and hundreds of parents and children to flee in search of safety.

The annual Eid al-Fitr event, held outside a large mosque in the city's Parkside neighborhood, came to a sudden end when some 30 shots rang out at about 2:30 p.m., Philadelphia police said.

Five people were later taken into custody, including a 15-year-old boy who sustained leg and shoulder wounds when he was shot by police and was taken to the hospital by an officer, authorities said. Police said he was carrying a gun.

Additionally, one man was shot in the stomach and a juvenile victim had a wound to the hand, police said.

Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel confirmed at a news conference that a police vehicle responding to the 911 calls for help struck a 15-year-old girl who was fleeing the park. He said the child suffered a leg injury.

Witnesses described running to tents set up near the park, hiding behind trees and dropping to the pavement to avoid the gunfire, trying to shield children. Other attendees ran inside the nearby school and mosque and began frantically searching for their children and loved ones.

Authorities said nearly 1,000 people attended the event. Several witnesses said they came back to the park hours after the shooting to try to find their shoes or cellphones after running several streets away to safety.

“Ninety-nine percent of the people attending this event were good people who wanted to have a good time,” Bethel said, noting that city officials were offering their support to the Islamic community.

Police investigated the aftermath late Wednesday afternoon at Clara Muhammad Square, which was strewn with debris including blankets, strollers, coolers and a number of shoes, left behind by celebrants. A doll with a plastic wrapper nearby lay abandoned in the grass near a playground surrounded by police tape and guarded by officers. A few tables with aluminum containers of food to break the fast of Ramadan sat in the middle of the park, surrounded by yellow crime scene tape. Two tubs of melted bright red water ice were spilled onto the sidewalk.

Around 4 p.m., members of the Masjid began pushing large brooms to clean up the debris left in the street and on the sidewalk. A handful of young women dressed in bright colors picked up valuables — a bag, a cellphone, shoes — and set them aside for people to claim. Others waited for police to allow them to gather their purses or lawn chairs from the park.

Zania Weatherford had just gone to her car for a moment when she heard the gunfire and saw people running across the street. She called relatives at the event to make sure they were safe.

“Last year, someone set off firecrackers and scared everyone,” Weatherford said. “This is just a celebration of life for God to forgive us for our sins. There’s one month that God chains the devil down, so whoever did this can’t even blame the devil.”

Thomas Allen, who was at the Philadelphia Masjid located next the park, said the scene during the shooting was “pandemonium.”

"And we’re hearing that they were children, you know, they were children. And it's a sad thing,” Allen said, referring to the suspects.

“All my years of living in Philadelphia, I’ve never seen nothing like this, especially at the masjid," he said. "Just as much crime as it may be in Philadelphia. It was always separated from the masjid.”

The motive for the shooting was not immediately clear. The suspects include four males and a female, Bethel said.

Eid al-Fitr is an Islamic holiday marking the end of Ramadan, the month when devout Muslims fast daily from dawn to sunset. Ramadan is a time of increased worship, charity, and good deeds. Eid al-Fitr means the feast, or festival, of breaking the fast.

People gather in the aftermath of a shooting at an Eid al-Fitr event in Philadelphia, Wednesday, April 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

People gather in the aftermath of a shooting at an Eid al-Fitr event in Philadelphia, Wednesday, April 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Police respond to a shooting at an Eid al-Fitr event, Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in Philadelphia. (Monica Herndon/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP)

Police respond to a shooting at an Eid al-Fitr event, Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in Philadelphia. (Monica Herndon/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP)

Investigators work the scene of a shooting at an Eid al-Fitr event in Philadelphia, Wednesday, April 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Police respond to a shooting at an Eid al-Fitr event, Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in Philadelphia. (Monica Herndon/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP)

People gather in the aftermath of a shooting at an Eid al-Fitr event in Philadelphia, Wednesday, April 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

People gather in the aftermath of a shooting at an Eid al-Fitr event in Philadelphia, Wednesday, April 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

People view the aftermath of a shooting at an Eid al-Fitr event in Philadelphia, Wednesday, April 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

People speak to police following a shooting at an Eid al-Fitr event, Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in Philadelphia. (Monica Herndon/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP)

Food and belongings are left behind following a shooting at an Eid al-Fitr event, Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in Philadelphia. (Monica Herndon/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP)

Shown are personal items left behind at the scene of a shooting at an Eid al-Fitr event in Philadelphia, Wednesday, April 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

People clean up debris at the scene of a shooting at an Eid al-Fitr event in Philadelphia, Wednesday, April 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

An evidence marker is place next to a cartridge case at the scene of a shooting at an Eid event in Philadelphia, Wednesday, April 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

A cartridge case lies at the scene of a shooting at an Eid event in Philadelphia, Wednesday, April 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Shown are personal items left behind in the aftermath of a shooting at an Eid al-Fitr event in Philadelphia, Wednesday, April 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Investigators work the scene of a shooting at an Eid al-Fitr event in Philadelphia, Wednesday, April 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Police respond to a shooting at an Eid al-Fitr event, Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in Philadelphia. (Monica Herndon/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP)

Police and officials gather on a cordoned off street at the scene of a shooting, Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Claudia Lauer)

A person talks to an officer in the aftermath of a shooting at an Eid al-Fitr event in Philadelphia, Wednesday, April 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

A person picks up debris in the aftermath of a shooting at an Eid event in Philadelphia, Wednesday, April 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

People gather in the aftermath of a shooting at an Eid al-Fitr event in Philadelphia, Wednesday, April 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

People gather in the aftermath of a shooting at an Eid al-Fitr event in Philadelphia, Wednesday, April 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

BOSTON (AP) — If this playoff run is about redemption for the Boston Celtics, it had to start with exacting some revenge against the Miami Heat.

A year ago, Miami embarrassed Boston in a Game 7 showdown at TD Garden.

This time, the Celtics returned the favor.

Jaylen Brown and Derrick White each scored 25 points and the Celtics advanced to the Eastern Conference semifinals, beating the short-handed Heat 118-84 in Game 5 on Wednesday night.

Boston will face the winner of the Cleveland-Orlando series. The Cavaliers lead 3-2, with Game 6 in Orlando on Friday night.

Brown said they went into the game with a business-like approach.

“It is a lot of history, back and forth. But it didn’t matter who it was," Brown said. "We just had to get the job done.”

That was echoed by teammate Jayson Tatum.

“I think this is my fourth time playing them in playoffs,” Tatum said. “They all count the same. ... We did our job. We took care of business."

Brown also had six assists, and White hit five 3-pointers. Sam Hauser added 17 points and Tatum had 16 points and 12 rebounds, The top-seeded Celtics never trailed and led by 35 points.

Bam Adebayo scored 23 points and Tyler Herro had 15 for Miami, which made its first exit from the playoffs prior to the conference finals since 2021. The Heat struggled throughout, going 3 of 29 from 3-point range.

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said it was clear early that the Celtics were playing with some extra energy from the opening tap.

“They probably had something to motivate them even more against us,” he said.

Despite the lopsided loss and the way their season ended, Adebayo said he is taking lessons into the offseason.

“We’ve gained a lot of mental toughness,” he said. "Going through that as a captain, it helped me understand that the ship’s going to get rocky sometimes.

Boston played for the first time this postseason without center Kristaps Porzingis after he strained his right calf in the Celtics’ Game 4 victory. His teammates filled in the gaps, as the Celtics’ lead reached 30 points in the first half.

Boston exploited a Heat team that was the most injured it’d been in the series. Jaime Jaquez Jr. sat out after suffering a hip injury in Game 4. He was replaced in the lineup by Delon Wright, marking the 37th starting five the Heat used this season. Jaquez joined Jimmy Butler (knee) and Terry Rozier (neck), who had both been sidelined since the start of the series.

It made for unique rotations for Miami, which included veteran Patty Mills logging minutes for just the third time in the series.

Boston seized on the vulnerabilities in the Heat’s defense, spreading them out and knocking down eight 3-pointers in the opening period. It helped the Celtics carry an 18-point lead into the second quarter.

The highlight of the opening 12 minutes came courtesy of White, who pulverized Miami from long distance with eight 3s in Game 4. He stayed on the attack early Wednesday, faking a 3-point attempt and then driving in for an uncontested one-handed dunk.

White played to the home crowd afterward, holding his hand in front of his face as he backpedaled up the court. After the Heat called a timeout, a courtside fan near the Celtics’ bench could be seen pantomiming fanning White on the sideline.

“I think that’s when I’m at my best, when I’m having fun out there," White said. "But at the same time realizing this is a best moment and we’re all locked into it.”

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (13) tries to shoot over Boston Celtics center Luke Kornet (40) during the first half of Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown, center, drives to the basket against Miami Heat forward Nikola Jovic (5) and guard Tyler Herro during the first half of Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) shoots over Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro (14) during the first half of Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra watches his players during the first half of Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Boston Celtics, Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) sets to drive against Miami Heat forward Caleb Martin during the first half of Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro (14) tosses up a shot after driving past Boston Celtics guard Derrick White (9) during the first half of Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Boston Celtics forward Sam Hauser (30) battles Miami Heat forward Caleb Martin for the ball during the first half of Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) drives past Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (13) during the first half of Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) grabs a long pass against Miami Heat forward Caleb Martin, left, during the first half of Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown, right, slams a dunk against Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (13) during the first half of Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)