1 dead, 1 wounded after brutal Crescentville attack

One man is dead and another is clinging to life after a brutal, execution style attack in Crescentville, police said.

Just before 6 p.m., officers from the 2nd District found two men shot on Newtown Avenue near Godfrey, a narrow, trash strewn street, Chief Inspector Scott Small said.

Both had duct tape covering their faces, and were bound at the wrists with the same material, Small said.
One of the men was able to free himself from his bindings and talk to the officers. He had been shot three times in his back, arm and leg, and was transported to Albert Einstein Medical Center in critical condition.

That victim, 26, remains there tonight, conscious and cooperating with police, Small said.

The other victim wasn't so fortunate: He was pronounced dead on the scene, having been shot in his face, back and leg. His identity is unknown, but he's believed to be in his late 20s, Small said.
Preliminary information indicates the men were abducted from elsewhere in the city and then dumped in Crescentville, Small said.

It's not clear where they were shot, but six spent shell casings were found near the men.
No information is available for a motive, and detectives are consulting surveillance footage from a nearby business.

The owner of that business, a plumbing supply firm, declined to comment as he escorted police personnel into his office.

But Debbie Schaible, who lives around the corner, had plenty to say.

"It's gotten to the point where I don't want to go out, or let my daughter go out," she said. "People say 'Well, it's time to move,' but where are you gonna go?'

"This stuff is happening everywhere, it seems."