The trio of shooters hopped out of a blue Hyundai Sonata near the intersection of Rising Sun and Cottman avenues in the city's Burlhome section at 3 p.m., according to police.
Two vehicles believed to be connected with the shooting, including the Hyundai, were recovered and impounded by police overnight Wednesday, said Deputy Commissioner Frank Vanore at a press conference Thursday afternoon.
No arrests have been made, he told reporters.
Asked if the shooting was an act of retaliation, Vanore said investigators are "well aware there could be previous incidents that connect to this."
"There's a lot more work to do to say definitively this connects to other incidents," he said.
The possible motive remains under investigation, he added.
The three suspects were sitting in the Hyundai near a Dunkin Donuts before opening fire, city Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel told reporters Wednesday.
"At some point when the bus is pulling up and the kids are converging to get on the bus, three individuals exit that vehicle and then discharges multiple times," he said.
Over 30 shots were fired, striking eight victims between the ages of 15 and 17, according to Bethel. All were students of Northeast High School.
One 16-year-old boy was hospitalized in critical condition with multiple gunshot wounds to the torso, according to the department. The other seven are said to be in stable condition.
Anyone with information is asked to call PPD at 215-686-8477 or 911.
(Note: This story has been updated with new information from Philadelphia police.)
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