It happened around 2:50 p.m. in the city's Fern Rock section.
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Views from Chopper 6 showed a large police presence near the station on the corner of Broad Street and Olney Avenue.
Witnesses said it was violent and chaotic as the gunfire erupted out of nowhere.
Multiple people shot in Olney section of Philadelphia
"Boom, boom, boom, everybody trying to scatter to get away," recounted one man.
"I'm ducking... I thought my life was on the line," added Will Barton.
Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw said the injured victims range in ages from 17 to 70. The eight victims include:
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- A 22-year-old man who was shot in the back
- A 21-year-old man who was shot in the right leg
- A 53-year-old man who was shot in the right leg
- A 36-year-old woman who was shot in the right thigh
- A 70-year-old man who was shot in the right thigh
- A 17-year-old girl who was shot in the right arm
- A 71-year-old man who was shot once in the stomach and multiple times in both legs
-A 48-year-old man who suffered a graze wound to this stomach
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The victims were taken to area hospitals. The 71-year-old man was listed in critical condition but the others were listed in stable condition, police said.
WATCH: Philly Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw provides update on shooting at Olney Transportation Center
Philly Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw provides update on shooting at Olney Transportation Center
One person was taken into custody and two guns were found at the scene. There is no immediate word on if both weapons belong to that individual or if there were multiple shooters.
"At this point we don't know the extent of that person's involvement," said Outlaw.
Police are working to determine what sparked the shooting.
"I am beyond sickened. I refuse to accept this emergency situation as normal. We must rise together with one clear and united moral voice against the evil act of violence. People have the right to travel between work and home, and around town, without the fear of being shot, and possibly killed, by reckless, indiscriminate gunfire," said Mayor Jim Kenney in a statement.
Anyone with any information is asked to call police at 215-686-TIPS.
An earlier version of this story said one person was dead following the shooting.