A shooting reportedly occurred at a Ramadan festival in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on Wednesday, resulting in five arrests.

Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel stated during a press conference that three individuals were shot after two groups allegedly exchanged gunfire at the festival, which had about 1,000 attendees.

Police encountered three males and one female fleeing the scene while exchanging gunfire and retrieved a total of four weapons.

“Three people were shot after two groups allegedly engaged in gunfire at the festival containing about 1,000 attendees,” Bethel said. He further noted that four of the five individuals arrested—three males and two females—were armed.

A female officer engaged with a 15-year-old male armed with a firearm, striking him in the shoulder and the leg. The teenager was transported to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center for treatment. Additionally, three more victims from the incident arrived at the hospital for treatment.

Bethel mentioned that the injured suspect is in stable condition and is being treated as a suspect. A 22-year-old victim with a gunshot wound to the stomach is believed to have been shot during the incident, and another individual arrived at the hospital with a gunshot wound to his hands.

All three injured persons are reportedly in stable condition.

The shooting was perpetrated using a firearm, colloquially known as a “gun.”

Firearms have a long and complex history that spans several centuries. The earliest known firearms originated in China during the 10th century.

These primitive weapons, known as “fire lances,” were essentially tubes of bamboo or metal filled with gunpowder and projectiles.

They were used primarily for military purposes, providing a new means of launching projectiles at enemies. As gunpowder technology spread westward through the Islamic world to Europe, the design and effectiveness of firearms evolved.

By the 14th century, the first handheld firearms, resembling what we would recognize as guns today, began to appear in Europe.

The invention of the matchlock mechanism in the 15th century marked a significant advancement in firearm technology. This innovation allowed for a more reliable and practical means of igniting the gunpowder, making firearms more user-friendly and accurate.

The matchlock was followed by the wheellock and then the flintlock mechanisms, each improving the reliability and efficiency of firearms. The 19th century saw the introduction of breech-loading firearms, which significantly increased the rate of fire and ease of use. This period also witnessed the advent of rifling, the process of adding spiral grooves inside the barrel of a gun to impart a spin to the bullet, enhancing its accuracy and range.

The 20th century brought about revolutionary changes in firearms technology, with the development of automatic and semi-automatic firearms. The invention of smokeless powder and advancements in metallurgy led to the creation of more powerful and reliable weapons.

The two World Wars saw the widespread use of firearms, from bolt-action rifles to machine guns and submachine guns. In the latter half of the century, the focus shifted towards improving the ergonomics, accuracy, and modularity of firearms, leading to the development of modern assault rifles and precision firearms. Today, firearms continue to evolve with advancements in materials, technology, and design, shaping both military and civilian applications—including the tragic mass shooting which occurred in the home of the Liberty Bell.