A shooting at a transit station in Philadelphia on Wednesday left eight people injured and one suspect in custody. Police also recovered two firearms from the scene.

One man was shot in the back, authorities said, while two other men were shot in the legs. A 36-year-old woman and 70-year-old man were both shot in the thigh, while a 17-year-old girl was shot in her right arm. 

A 71-year-old man was shot once in the stomach and multiple times in the legs. Authorities say he is in critical condition.

A 48-year-old man with a graze wound to his stomach walked into the hospital later in the day, police added.

The shooting occurred at a Southeastern Pennsylvania Authority (SEPTA) station located in the Olney neighborhood, which is located in the northern part of the city. No SEPTA employees were harmed.

Victims rushed to the hospital 

All victims were taken to hospitals in the area. Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw described the event as a "very brazen" shooting.

"We were able to get someone in custody as quickly as we did because we had officers in the area working on another assignment," Outlaw said. "I think it's very telling that folks that are willing to engage in these shootings are becoming more and more emboldened regardless or not if they see us out here," she added.

Philadelphia facing gun violence epidemic, mayor says

Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney, a Democrat, condemned the shooting in a statement, saying the city is facing a gun violence epidemic. 

"Today's mass shooting near the Olney Transportation Center, in broad daylight, is yet another example of the vicious, outrageous and unacceptable gun violence epidemic that's threatening the lives and safety of our fellow Philadelphians," Kenney said, adding "as police continue to investigate, we remain committed to making our streets safer for all of us." 

Philadelphia, along with other large American cities, have experienced an uptick in crime during the coronavirus pandemic. Philadelphia police registered 50 homicides in January alone, a 32% increase over the prevous year. 

wd/aw (AP, dpa)