Eight People Shot in Early Morning Gunfire Outside South Philadelphia Bar on July 5

A violent outbreak in the early hours of Friday, July 5, left eight people wounded outside a busy nightlife spot in South Philadelphia, prompting an intensive investigation by local authorities. The shooting occurred at approximately 3:50 a.m. near the 7 Elements Restaurant Bar and Lounge, located on the 1100 block of South 11th Street.

According to police, the violence erupted following a physical altercation on an outdoor balcony, which escalated into gunfire that spilled across multiple levels of the establishment. Investigators recovered numerous shell casings from the second-floor bar area, the stairway, and the parking lot, suggesting shots may have been fired from different locations.

The victims—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—were all transported to area hospitals. They are currently listed in stable condition, though two of those injured were identified as security guards who had been working at the venue.

Nearby residents were startled by the incident, with many mistaking the sound of gunfire for Fourth of July fireworks. “I did hear popping, but I thought it was fireworks,” said Tom O’Hara, a local resident. Another neighbor, Henry Zhang, expressed concern about the increasing violence, saying, “It’s sad, man. You don’t want to see this around your neighborhood. I’m trying to go to work and I see police cars lined up on bike lanes—I’m like, what’s happening?”

Law enforcement officials found the business closed when they arrived and had to secure the premises to ensure no additional victims remained inside. Inspector D.F. Pace confirmed that the bar was operating well past the city’s legal 2 a.m. closing time, a key detail that has prompted regulatory scrutiny.

Officers are now reviewing footage from over a dozen surveillance cameras in the shopping plaza where the lounge is located, as well as videos circulating on social media. Investigators are still working to determine how many individuals fired weapons and from where the shots originated.

No arrests have been made at this time, and the investigation remains active.

Later that morning, officials from the Philadelphia Department of Licenses and Inspections (L&I) responded to the scene and immediately ordered the lounge to cease operations due to multiple code violations. These included unauthorized after-hours operation, gambling, and improper smoking permits.

Councilmember Dr. Nina Ahmad, speaking on the matter, said, “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. I applaud L&I for taking swift action to address 7 Elements' zoning and licensing violations.”

Originally, police believed 11 people had been shot, but that figure was later revised down to eight after confirming some individuals had been counted twice during the initial response.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Philadelphia Police at 215-686-TIPS (8477) or submit tips anonymously online to aid in the ongoing investigation.