BREAKING: 8 shot, 4 killed in Southwest Philadelphia shooting, 2 children among victims

The shooting occurred shortly before 8:30 p.m., when a police officer in the vicinity of South 56th Street and Chester Avenue heard gunfire and discovered at least one victim, the Philly Inquirer reported.

Twitter account Philly Crime Updates was first to report on the shooting.

As law enforcement officers rushed to the scene, they received multiple reports of an armed male actively firing a rifle in the area. These reports were substantiated by the officers themselves, who also heard the sounds of gunfire.

Within a matter of minutes, four victims were located and swiftly transported to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center for treatment. Additionally, four more victims arrived at the same hospital by private vehicle, bringing the total number of injured individuals to eight.

By approximately 8:40 pm, police officers relayed that they had successfully apprehended a male suspect who was wearing a ballistic vest. The arrest took place in the alleyway behind the 1600 block of South Frazier Street. During the arrest, law enforcement officers seized a rifle and a handgun, both of which were in the possession of the suspect. Importantly, it was confirmed that no officers discharged their firearms during the apprehension.

Authorities have stated that two of the juvenile victims are expected to be transferred from Penn Presbyterian Medical Center to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia for specialized care.