8 people wounded in shooting at South Philly lounge that has now been ordered by L&I to close

It started like so many Philadelphia shootings: an argument. Then, at least two combatants pulled knives. In seconds, eight people were shot outside a South Philly lounge.

The shootings were reported just before 4 a.m. at the 7 Elements late-night lounge, located on the second floor of the two-story Dung Phat Plaza shopping center at 11th Street and Washington Avenue, moments after a brawl involving knives left people fighting on the ground of a balcony.

A video obtained by police shows that as security attempted to stop the fighting, at least one shooter fired a burst of shots into the crowd, sending patrons running. A security guard on duty admitted to firing a gun, police said. Investigators did not say if there was more than one shooter.

A trail of blood led from the balcony into the club, which police found locked. Firefighters were able to get inside, where no more victims were found.

Eight people treated at area hospitals remained in stable condition; four of them had been driven to emergency rooms in private vehicles.

“In response to the mass shooting incident in South Philadelphia early this morning, the Office of Public Safety immediately deployed our RAPID Response protocol and is still actively engaged through several divisions today,” said Chief Public Safety Director Adam Geer. “In this case, one of our first actions was to work directly with ... [the Philadelphia Department of Licenses and Inspections] ... to immediately revoke the business’ operating license for violations.”

The injured range in age from 25 to 43, according to police. An earlier police report incorrectly said a security guard had been shot in the face.

Police said the wounded were taken to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Methodist Hospital, and the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.

Police had closed off the commercial center, which includes other restaurants, a nail salon, and professional offices, with red crime-scene tape Saturday morning as they searched for evidence. Investigators were trying to collect footage of the shooting from several surveillance cameras in the area.

Evidence markers indicated at least 17 bullet casings had been found at the scene, six outside the bar. Blood spots on the pavement were also marked.

Police told a business owner Saturday morning that opening time would have to be delayed because three shell casings remained by the door. About 11 a.m., three employees at Pho Ga Thanh Thanh left the Vietnamese restaurant just beneath 7 Elements, saying they were not going to be able to work Saturday.

A couple of hours later, an L&I representative arrived and ordered 7 Elements closed, citing zoning and licensing violations. A notice posted on the door said the following corrective actions were needed to reopen: “Obtain permits required to legalize smoking lounge, after hours, and gambling establishment. Renew food prep license.”

About 1 p.m., police reopened access to the plaza except for the second floor, which was being cleaned of blood and other traces of the stabbings and shootings.

Miguel, 46, who would not provide his last name out of fear of retaliation, said he showed up about 9 a.m. for his morning cleaning shift at 7 Elements to find a crime scene instead. He has been cleaning at the establishment for only a month, but says that besides the music, it’s “a quiet and calm place.”

“This is really shocking. I would have never expected something like this to happen here,” Miguel said. “It’s a very chill place.”

It was similarly described by Jeff Young, 52, who stared at the crime scene in disbelief late Saturday morning. In all his years working at Nam Phuong, the Vietnamese restaurant next to the plaza, he doesn’t recall anything like this happening.

“I am surprised because it’s peaceful and quiet here,” Young said.

Young knows 7 Elements operates as a nightclub, but though he occasionally hears music coming from the business, he said, he does not remember seeing it open.

“By the time we close around 9 p.m., they are still closed, and when we come in the morning, they are already closed,” Young said.

According to 7 Elements’ website, it is open from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. Monday through Saturday, and is currently seeking bartenders, servers, and lounge staff “to create the most memorable experience Philly has to offer.”

“7 Elements is committed to maintaining a 5-star experience for everyone who walks through our doors,” the website says.

A spokesperson for 7 Elements did not respond to requests for comment.

Neighbor Thomas O’Hara said noise is a common complaint about the bar, which sits at the east end of the strip center.

“I hear stuff going on here at this one corner restaurant all the time,” O’Hara said. “They were screaming out here loud as heck [Friday] morning. I hear it all the time.”

Staff photographer Yong Kim contributed to this article.