Five people were killed and two children injured by a heavily armed gunman in a southwest neighborhood of Philadelphia Monday night, police said.
Officers responded to gunfire in the Kingsessing section of southwest Philadelphia at about 8:30 p.m., Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw said Monday at a news conference. Officers found dozens of shell casings over the eight blocks where the shootings occurred.
Three of the dead were 20 to 59 years old, while the fourth, who had not yet been identified, was estimated to be between 16 and 21. All were male. The two boys, ages 2 and 13, were hospitalized, in stable condition, Outlaw said.
“We believe, again, everyone was out doing what they were doing,” Outlaw said. “And at this point, we don’t see a connection to any of the victims and the shooter.”
“Thank God our officers were on the scene and responded as quickly as they did. I can’t even describe the level of bravery and courage that was shown, in addition to the restraint that was shown here,” Outlaw said.
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While police were responding to the first scene and preparing to transport victims to a hospital, Outlaw said more gunshots were heard in two other areas near where the victims were found.
Officers chased the 40-year-old suspect, who wore a bulletproof vest, as he continued to fire, and he was arrested in an alleyway after surrendering, Outlaw said. He carried multiple magazines, an “AR-type rifle,” a handgun, and a police scanner, she said.
“At this point, all we know is that this person decided to leave their home and target individuals,” Outlaw said.
A second person was taken into custody, who Outlaw said had acquired a gun and shot in the direction of the alleged shooter.
Outlaw said officers are canvassing the scene, which covers an area of two by four blocks, to determine what led to the shooting.
Gun violence during the holiday weekend
The shooting occurred a day after gunfire erupted at a holiday weekend block party in Baltimore, about 100 miles to the southwest, killing two people and wounding 28 others. The wounded in that shooting ranged in age from 13 to 32, with more than half of them minors, according to officials.
The Philadelphia violence marks the country’s 29th mass killing in 2023, according to a database maintained by The Associated Press and USA TODAY in partnership with Northeastern University.
So far this year, the nation has witnessed the highest number on record of mass killings and deaths to this point in a single year.
There have been more than 550 mass killings since 2006, according to the database, in which at least 2,900 people have died and at least 2,000 people have been injured.
In Philadelphia, 212 homicides had been reported this year before Monday’s shooting, a 19% decrease from the previous year. The deaths included 185 fatal shootings.
Contributing: The Associated Press
USA TODAY
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