Two arrested in Archbishop Ryan HS shooting

The Philadelphia Police Department identified two suspects who were arrested over the weekend after shooting a 17-year-old in the leg behind Archbishop Ryan High School in Northeast Philly.

Joshua Sanchez, 19, of Gloucester, New Jersey, and Jonathan Rojas, 16, of Camden, New Jersey, are charged with aggravated assault, criminal conspiracy and gun charges.

The two allegedly approached a group of young people at the back woods behind the Catholic high school in Northeast Philly on Saturday evening.

They “walked up and approached the victim about buying some narcotics. The victim didn’t know the males and they exchanged hostile words with each other,” the originalpolice report stated.

An argument broke out, a third person appeared and shot the victim in the leg. He was hospitalized in stable condition after police reported to the baseball field behind the school.

Two bike cops patrolling the area located and arrested Sanchez and Rojas on the 3800 block of Elmore Place after determining that they matched the description of the suspects.

According to the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, no Archbishop Ryan students were involved in the events surrounding the shooting, and the school is cooperating with the police investigation.

“The incident that occurred Saturday night was not connected to any activity sponsored by Archbishop Ryan High School. At this time, we have no indication that any students from Archbishop Ryan were involved,” Archdiocese of Philadelphia spokesman Ken Gavin said in an email.

“The school will cooperate fully with the Philadelphia Police Department in the course of its investigation. School administration has already communicated with school families regarding this matter and addressed it in school with the student body as well.”