A shooting rampage in Philadelphia on Monday night has left five people dead and two children injured. The incident began when police officers were flagged down at the intersection of 56th and Chester streets, according to Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw. As they were preparing to transport gunshot victims to the hospital, more gunshots were heard in the area.
Responding officers found multiple shell casings and continued to hear gunfire as they pursued the gunman. He was eventually apprehended in a back alley on Frazer Street, wearing a bulletproof vest and armed with an AR-style rifle and a handgun.
Commissioner Outlaw praised the bravery and courage of the responding officers for bringing the gunman into custody without incident. She expressed gratitude that the officers were on the scene and responded quickly. The motive behind the shooting spree remains unknown, with Outlaw stating, “We have absolutely no idea why this happened.” She emphasized that the shooter deliberately targeted individuals after leaving their home.
The investigation took a grim turn when a seventh victim was discovered several hours later. A man approached officers while they were processing earlier crime scenes, informing them that he found his son lying unresponsive on the living room floor around 12:30 a.m. The son had suffered gunshot wounds to the face and torso and was pronounced dead at the scene. Police found several rifle rounds inside and outside the home.
The five men killed in the shooting ranged in age from 20 to 59. The two injured children, aged 2 and 13, are in stable condition. Additionally, another individual who may have fired back at the gunman during the rampage has been taken into custody.
The motive behind the shooting spree remains a mystery, leaving investigators searching for answers.