Campus Alert Archive
Penn

Assault with a firearm on the 4000 block of Market

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Penn UPennAlert reported an assault with a firearm on the 4000 block of Market Street and later posted an all-clear. Police found a person shot inside a business.

Alerts
2
Response
—
Killed
—
Injured
—
Institution
University of Pennsylvania
Private R1 · PA
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~28,000 studentsUPennAlert
Official alert policy
Read when and how Penn says it will use UPennAlert: summarized, quoted, and analyzed.
Documented Timeline

Alert Sequence

2 messages in sequence · 2 verified verbatim

Confirmed wording is transcribed character-for-character from a primary source. Use Verify this quote under each message to open that source in a new tab and compare the text yourself.

INITIAL ALERTSMS
Verified verbatim311 chars
UPennAlert: ASSAULT WITH FIREARM reported in the area of 4000 BLOCK MARKET STREET. Use caution, police on scene, avoid area. The suspects are described as: Black male, 5’9″, medium build, all black clothing, black and red shirt. The suspects were last seen heading: [west] on Market Street toward 40th Street.
Verify this quote
UPennAlert archive: assault with a firearm, 4000 Marketpublicsafety.upenn.edufind archived copies
Official UPennAlert archive 2026-09-20. sha256 c5dae561deb2be45bef6a87522e9c79cb2518785876a3d62299bdff85ced09f3. Official [west] bracket in the last-seen line preserved.
Distinct incident from 2026-04-25-university-of-pennsylvania-sansom-shooting-alert and 2026-09-14-university-of-pennsylvania-4000-baltimore-person-with-weapon: different dates and Market Street vs Sansom / Baltimore.
ALL CLEARSMS
Verified verbatim142 chars
UPennAlert: All clear in the area of 4000 BLOCK MARKET STREET. Police and Allied Security patrolling the area. You may resume normal activity.
Verify this quote
UPennAlert archive all-clear, 4000 Marketpublicsafety.upenn.edufind archived copies
Official UPennAlert archive 2026-09-20. sha256 1639839661382e04158aeb4be6ac8f76b289e50f352695fbf75d107e2681a05a.
Message elements

How the first alert is built

To check this alert, SuperGrok Heavy 4.5 (an AI) read it in full 25 separate times, independently. Each read decided whether the message answers each of the six questions and gave a short reason. A final reviewer then weighed all 25 and wrote the plain-English verdict you see when you open a row. The score (for example 22/25) is how many reads agreed; the 25 individual reads are tucked underneath if you want to check them.

UPennAlert: ASSAULT WITH FIREARM reported in the area of 4000 BLOCK MARKET STREET. Use caution, police on scene, avoid area. The suspects are described as: Black male, 5’9″, medium build, all black clothing, black and red shirt. The suspects were last seen heading: [west] on Market Street toward 40th Street.

  • Sourcepresent25/25

    Final assessment

    All 25 reads find Source present: the branded opener UPennAlert identifies the sender, and police are named on scene.

    Who is sending the alert and who is responding. People act faster on a message from a clearly identifiable, credible sender, such as a named department, the police, or a branded alert system, than on an anonymous notice. A branded signature counts.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. present: The branded opener UPennAlert identifies the sender, and police names a responding authority.
    2. present: The branded opener "UPennAlert" identifies the sender, and police are named on scene.
    3. present: The branded opener UPennAlert identifies the sender, and police are named on scene.
    4. present: The branded opener UPennAlert identifies the sender, and police are named on scene.
    5. present: The message opens with the branded signature "UPennAlert", which identifies the sender.
    6. present: The branded opener "UPennAlert" identifies the sender, and police are named on scene.
    7. present: The branded opener "UPennAlert" identifies the sender, and "police on scene" names an agency.
    8. present: The branded signature UPennAlert identifies the sender, and police are named on scene.
    9. present: The message opens with the branded signature "UPennAlert" and notes "police on scene".
    10. present: The opening tag UPennAlert is a branded sender signature.
    11. present: The branded tag "UPennAlert" identifies the sender, and police are named on scene.
    12. present: The branded opener "UPennAlert" identifies the sender, and police are named on scene.
    13. present: The branded opener "UPennAlert" identifies the sender, and "police on scene" names a responding agency.
    14. present: Opening tag "UPennAlert" is a branded sender label, and police are identified on scene.
    15. present: The branded opener UPennAlert identifies the sender, and police are named on scene.
    16. present: The branded opener "UPennAlert" identifies the sender.
    17. present: The branded opener UPennAlert identifies the sender.
    18. present: The branded opener "UPennAlert" identifies the sender, and the text also notes police on scene.
    19. present: The branded opener "UPennAlert" identifies the sender, and police are named on scene.
    20. present: The branded tag "UPennAlert" identifies the sender, and "police on scene" names a responding authority.
    21. present: The branded opener "UPennAlert:" identifies the sender, and "police on scene" names a responding authority.
    22. present: The branded opener UPennAlert identifies the sender, and police on scene names a responding agency.
    23. present: The branded opener "UPennAlert" identifies who is sending the message.
    24. present: The branded opener UPennAlert identifies the sender, and police are named as on scene.
    25. present: The branded opener UPennAlert identifies the sender, and police are named on scene.
  • Hazardpresent25/25

    Final assessment

    All 25 reads find Hazard present because ASSAULT WITH FIREARM names a specific violent threat.

    What the threat actually is. A complete warning names the specific danger, such as a shooter, a fire, a tornado, or a gas leak, rather than a vague emergency, because people decide what to do based on what they are facing.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. present: It names assault with firearm, a specific violent threat.
    2. present: It names "ASSAULT WITH FIREARM", a specific violent threat.
    3. present: It names assault with firearm, a specific violent threat.
    4. present: It names assault with firearm, a specific violent threat.
    5. present: It names "ASSAULT WITH FIREARM", a specific violent threat.
    6. present: It names "ASSAULT WITH FIREARM" as the specific threat.
    7. present: It names "ASSAULT WITH FIREARM", a specific violent threat.
    8. present: It names assault with firearm, a specific violent threat.
    9. present: It names "ASSAULT WITH FIREARM", a specific threat.
    10. present: ASSAULT WITH FIREARM names a specific violent crime as the threat.
    11. present: It names "ASSAULT WITH FIREARM", a specific violent threat.
    12. present: It names "ASSAULT WITH FIREARM", a specific violent threat.
    13. present: It names "ASSAULT WITH FIREARM" as the specific threat.
    14. present: "ASSAULT WITH FIREARM" specifies the crime and weapon, which is the threat.
    15. present: It names a specific threat: ASSAULT WITH FIREARM.
    16. present: It names "ASSAULT WITH FIREARM", a specific violent threat.
    17. present: It names ASSAULT WITH FIREARM, a specific violent threat.
    18. present: It names "ASSAULT WITH FIREARM", a specific violent threat.
    19. present: It names an "ASSAULT WITH FIREARM", a specific violent threat.
    20. present: It names "ASSAULT WITH FIREARM", a specific violent threat.
    21. present: It names "ASSAULT WITH FIREARM", a specific violent threat.
    22. present: It names assault with firearm, a specific violent threat.
    23. present: It names "ASSAULT WITH FIREARM", a specific violent threat.
    24. present: It names assault with firearm, a specific violent threat.
    25. present: It names assault with firearm, a specific threat.
  • Locationpresent25/25

    Final assessment

    All 25 reads find Location present: the report is at the 4000 block of Market Street, with suspects last seen toward 40th Street.

    Where the threat is. Saying whether danger is in a specific building, a part of campus, or area-wide lets people judge their own proximity and choose a safe direction. Without a where, a warning is hard to act on precisely.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. present: It places the event at the 4000 block of Market Street and last seen toward 40th Street.
    2. present: It places the report at the "4000 BLOCK MARKET STREET" and last seen toward 40th Street.
    3. present: The place is the 4000 block of Market Street, then west toward 40th Street.
    4. present: It places the report at the 4000 block of Market Street and last seen on Market toward 40th Street.
    5. present: It places the report at the 4000 BLOCK MARKET STREET and west on Market Street toward 40th Street.
    6. present: It locates the report at the "4000 BLOCK MARKET STREET" and last seen toward 40th Street.
    7. present: The event is placed at the "4000 BLOCK MARKET STREET" and toward 40th Street.
    8. present: It places the report at the 4000 block of Market Street and toward 40th Street.
    9. present: It places the assault at the "4000 BLOCK MARKET STREET" and last seen toward 40th Street.
    10. present: The report is placed in the area of 4000 BLOCK MARKET STREET, with suspects last seen on Market Street toward 40th Street.
    11. present: The report is in the area of 4000 BLOCK MARKET STREET, with suspects last seen toward 40th Street.
    12. present: The scene is the "4000 BLOCK MARKET STREET", with suspects last seen on Market toward 40th Street.
    13. present: It places the incident at the "4000 BLOCK MARKET STREET" and last seen toward 40th Street.
    14. present: The report is "in the area of 4000 BLOCK MARKET STREET", with suspects last seen on Market toward 40th.
    15. present: The event is placed at the 4000 BLOCK MARKET STREET and movement toward 40th Street.
    16. present: It places the report at the "4000 BLOCK MARKET STREET" and last seen on Market toward 40th Street.
    17. present: It places the report at the 4000 BLOCK MARKET STREET and last seen on Market toward 40th.
    18. present: It places the report at the "4000 BLOCK MARKET STREET" and last seen toward 40th Street.
    19. present: The assault is "in the area of 4000 BLOCK MARKET STREET", with suspects heading toward 40th Street.
    20. present: The report is at the "4000 BLOCK MARKET STREET", with suspects last seen west on Market toward 40th Street.
    21. present: It places the event at the "4000 BLOCK MARKET STREET" and last seen west on Market toward 40th Street.
    22. present: It places the report at the 4000 block of Market Street and last seen heading west toward 40th Street.
    23. present: The report is placed at the "4000 BLOCK MARKET STREET" and toward 40th Street.
    24. present: It places the incident at the 4000 block of Market Street and west toward 40th Street.
    25. present: It places the report at the 4000 block of Market Street, last seen toward 40th Street.
  • Guidancepresent25/25

    Final assessment

    All 25 reads find Guidance present: recipients are told to use caution and avoid the area, both protective actions.

    The protective action to take. A clear, specific instruction, such as shelter in place, evacuate, avoid the area, or run-hide-fight, drives faster and more correct protective behavior than describing the threat alone.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. present: Recipients are told to use caution and avoid the area, which are protective actions.
    2. present: It instructs recipients to "Use caution" and "avoid area".
    3. present: It instructs people to use caution and avoid area, which are protective actions.
    4. present: Recipients are told to use caution and avoid the area, which are protective actions.
    5. present: It instructs recipients to "Use caution" and "avoid area", which are protective actions.
    6. present: It instructs recipients to "Use caution" and "avoid area".
    7. present: Recipients are told to "Use caution" and "avoid area", which are protective actions.
    8. present: It tells recipients to use caution and avoid the area.
    9. present: Recipients are instructed to "Use caution" and "avoid area".
    10. present: Recipients are told to use caution and avoid the area, while police on scene describes responders rather than a protective instruction.
    11. present: It instructs people to use caution and avoid the area.
    12. present: Recipients are told to "Use caution" and "avoid area", which are protective actions.
    13. present: It instructs recipients to "Use caution" and "avoid area", both protective actions.
    14. present: Recipients are told to "Use caution" and "avoid area".
    15. present: Recipients are told to Use caution and avoid area.
    16. present: It instructs recipients to "Use caution" and "avoid area".
    17. present: It instructs recipients to Use caution and avoid area.
    18. present: It instructs recipients to "Use caution" and "avoid area".
    19. present: Recipients are told to "Use caution" and "avoid area", both protective actions.
    20. present: Recipients are told to "Use caution" and "avoid area", which are protective actions.
    21. present: It tells recipients to "Use caution" and "avoid area", both protective actions.
    22. present: It instructs recipients to use caution and avoid the area.
    23. present: It instructs people to "Use caution" and "avoid area".
    24. present: It instructs recipients to use caution and avoid the area, a protective action.
    25. present: It instructs recipients to use caution and avoid the area.
  • Timeabsent0/25

    Final assessment

    All 25 reads find Time absent: no clock time, date, or recency cue such as now or immediately appears.

    When the message applies. A timestamp, the word now or immediately, or a phrase like until further notice tells the reader whether the danger is current and how quickly to act.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. absent: No clock time, date, or recency word such as now or immediately appears.
    2. absent: No clock time, date, or recency word such as now or immediately is given.
    3. absent: No clock time, date, or recency word such as now or immediately appears.
    4. absent: No clock time, date, or recency cue such as now or immediately appears.
    5. absent: No clock time, date, or recency cue such as now or immediately appears.
    6. absent: No clock time, date, or recency word such as now or immediately appears.
    7. absent: No clock time, date, or recency cue such as now or immediately appears.
    8. absent: No clock time, date, or recency word such as now or immediately appears.
    9. absent: No clock time, date, or recency cue such as "now" or "immediately" appears.
    10. absent: There is no clock time, date, or recency wording such as now, immediately, or ongoing.
    11. absent: No clock time, date, or recency cue such as now or immediately appears.
    12. absent: No clock time, date, or recency word such as now, immediately, or as of appears.
    13. absent: No clock time, date, or recency cue such as now, immediately, or today appears.
    14. absent: There is no clock time, date, now, immediately, or similar recency phrase.
    15. absent: No clock time, date, or recency cue such as now or immediately appears.
    16. absent: No clock time, date, or recency cue such as now or immediately appears.
    17. absent: No clock time, date, or recency word such as now or immediately appears.
    18. absent: No clock time, date, or recency word such as now or immediately appears.
    19. absent: "Reported" and "last seen" give no clock time, date, or recency word such as now or immediately.
    20. absent: No clock time, date, or recency cue such as now or immediately appears.
    21. absent: No clock time, date, or recency word such as now or immediately appears.
    22. absent: No clock time, date, or recency word such as now or immediately appears.
    23. absent: No clock time, date, or recency cue such as now or immediately appears.
    24. absent: No clock time, date, or recency cue such as now or immediately appears.
    25. absent: No clock time, date, or recency cue such as now or immediately appears.
  • Impactabsent0/25

    Final assessment

    All 25 reads find Impact absent: naming a firearm assault states the hazard but adds no consequence or severity such as dangerous or injury.

    What the hazard could do to the people in its path. Beyond naming the threat, a complete warning conveys its potential consequences or severity, such as that a tornado can level buildings or that a leak could be explosive, so recipients grasp how much danger they are in. Research on warning message content finds that a concrete impact statement helps people personalize their risk and act sooner.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. absent: The firearm assault is the hazard name only, with no stated consequence or severity.
    2. absent: Naming an assault with a firearm does not by itself state consequences or severity.
    3. absent: Naming an assault with a firearm does not by itself state consequences or how severe the harm could be.
    4. absent: Naming a firearm assault does not state consequences or severity such as dangerous or life threatening.
    5. absent: Naming the assault does not state a consequence or severity such as dangerous or could be deadly.
    6. absent: Naming a firearm assault does not by itself state consequences or severity.
    7. absent: The assault is named, but the text does not state injury, danger, or other harm to recipients.
    8. absent: Naming an assault with a firearm does not by itself state consequence or severity.
    9. absent: Naming an assault with a firearm does not state a consequence or severity such as "dangerous" or "could be deadly".
    10. absent: The firearm assault names the hazard only and does not add consequence or severity language such as dangerous or life-threatening.
    11. absent: The firearm assault is named but no consequence or severity such as dangerous or injury is stated.
    12. absent: The crime is named but the text never states a consequence or severity such as deadly or dangerous.
    13. absent: Naming an assault with a firearm states the hazard but adds no consequence or severity language.
    14. absent: No line states injury, danger, or other consequences beyond naming the assault.
    15. absent: The firearm assault is named but no consequence or severity phrase is given.
    16. absent: Naming the assault does not state consequences or severity beyond the hazard itself.
    17. absent: The firearm assault is named but no consequence or severity such as dangerous or injury is stated.
    18. absent: The firearm assault is named but the text never states consequences or severity such as dangerous or deadly.
    19. absent: A firearm assault is named, but the text does not state injury, danger, or other consequences.
    20. absent: The firearm assault is the hazard name only and no consequence or severity such as deadly is stated.
    21. absent: The firearm assault is the hazard name only, with no stated consequence or severity for people or property.
    22. absent: Naming an assault with a firearm does not by itself state consequences or severity for people or property.
    23. absent: Naming the assault does not state a consequence or severity such as dangerous or life-threatening.
    24. absent: Naming an assault with a firearm does not by itself state consequences or severity.
    25. absent: Naming a firearm assault does not by itself state consequence or severity such as dangerous or life threatening.

Coded by SuperGrok Heavy 4.5

Systematic AI judgments with visible reasoning, not human-validated codings.

About this analysis
Context

Background

Penn posts UPennAlert products on the upa-archive. Date of Alert on the page: April 6, 2026 4:54 pm.
Analysis

Key Findings

Two-message assault-with-firearm then all-clear sequence on the 4000 block of Market Street.
Outcome
Victim transported to hospital. Suspect last seen on an electric scooter westbound on Market. Archive page marks the alert no longer active.
Provenance

Sources

Every claim on this page is meant to be checkable. Open the links below (and the Verify this quote control under each confirmed alert) to read the original university, news, or archive page yourself. Hostnames are shown so you can see where you are going; archived copies survive when live pages move or disappear. See also our methodology.

  1. Official
    UPennAlert archive: assault with a firearm, 4000 Market
    publicsafety.upenn.edu
    archived copy
Cite this case

Campus Alert Archive. "University of Pennsylvania: Assault with a firearm on the 4000 block of Market." Incident of April 6, 2026. Added September 2026. https://campusalertarchive.com/case/university-of-pennsylvania-4000-market-assault-with-firearm-2026-04-06/

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Alert text quoted on this page remains the work of the issuing institution; the archive is a secondary source.

Tags
private-r1pennsylvaniapennupennalertivyshootingUnder Investigation
Added September 2026Updated September 2026Via ingestion