According to law enforcement, a 40-year-old individual first killed one man inside a residence and then proceeded to fatally shoot four additional individuals on the streets of a Philadelphia neighborhood. Eventually, the suspect was cornered in an alley and surrendered to police officers. The suspect was found in possession of an assault rifle, a pistol, extra magazines, a police scanner, and a bulletproof vest. During the violent incident, a 2-year-old boy and a 13-year-old were also injured. This occurrence made the working-class area of Kingsessing the site of the most severe violence observed nationwide during the July Fourth holiday.
Upon receiving the call, the police arrived at the scene and discovered victims with gunshot wounds. They promptly provided aid but then heard more gunshots. Some officers immediately rushed the victims to hospitals, while others courageously ran toward the sound of gunfire and pursued the shooter. Eventually, the assailant was apprehended in an alley. During a news conference, Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw stated that the shooter had no prior connection to the victims. She described the incident as follows, “On what was supposed to be a beautiful summer evening, this armed and armored individual wreaked havoc, firing with a rifle at their victims seemingly at random.”
Staff Inspector Ernest Ransom, the commander of the homicide unit, stated that witness interviews and video evidence indicated that the suspect, wearing a ski mask and body armor, visited multiple locations while carrying an AR-15-style rifle. He added, “The suspect then began shooting aimlessly at occupied vehicles and individuals on the street as they walked.” Among the victims were a mother driving her 2-year-old twins home, with one child sustaining leg injuries and the other being struck in the eyes by shattered glass.
The Philadelphia police later identified the deceased victims as Lashyd Merritt (20 years old), Dymir Stanton (29 years old), Ralph Moralis (59 years old), and Daujan Brown (15 years old). All four were pronounced dead shortly after the gunfire on Monday night. Another victim, Joseph Wamah Jr. (31 years old), was discovered with multiple bullet wounds in a residence early Tuesday.