Four people were killed and two children were injured in a mass shooting that took place in the Kingsessing section of Southwest Philadelphia on Monday night. The suspect has been taken into custody, according to the police.
The incident occurred when police responded to gunfire in the area of South 56th Street and Chester Avenue at around 8:30 p.m. The suspect, a 40-year-old man, was followed by the police as the shooting continued. He was confronted several blocks away in an alleyway on the 1600 block of South Frazier Street and was taken into custody without further incident.
Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw stated that the victims killed in the shooting were aged 59, 22, 20, and one was unidentified but believed to be between 16 and 21. The two injured children, aged 2 and 13, were reported to be in stable condition. All the victims were male.
Initially, the police reported a total of eight shooting victims, but Outlaw clarified that the final number was six. A second person, believed to have returned gunfire at the primary shooter, was also taken into custody. A gun belonging to that individual was recovered as evidence.
Outlaw revealed that the suspect was armed with an “AR-style” rifle and a handgun, and was wearing a ballistic vest. He was also found carrying additional magazines of ammunition and a police scanner. The shooting scene encompassed several blocks and approximately 50 shell casings were found. Several vehicles were struck by bullets.
The victims were rushed to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, with some transported by police and others arriving in private vehicles. No officers discharged their firearms during the suspect’s arrest.
The motive behind the shooting remains under investigation, according to Commissioner Outlaw. Mayor Jim Kenney expressed his horror at the incident on Twitter and extended his condolences to the victims’ loved ones. He praised the Philadelphia Police for their response and urged the public to report any information about the crime to the police.
The shooting has left residents in the area shaken. Emma Hilton, a resident of Kingsessing, expressed her concern about the increasing violence in the neighborhood. She stated that she is considering moving away due to the worsening situation.
As of late Sunday, Philadelphia has recorded 212 homicides this year, a 19% decrease compared to the same period in 2022. The authorities are actively working to combat the rising gun violence in the city.