Cops: Man fatally wounded by shotgun blast in West Philadelphia
The Philadelphia Daily News - PhillyConfidential
Cops: Man fatally wounded by shotgun blast in West Philadelphia
This post has been updated
An unidentified man died after taking a shotgun blast to his face and shoulder while he sat inside a car on 47th Street between Parrish and Westminster in the Mill Creek section of West Philadelphia, police said.
Cops said the man was sitting inside a dark 1997 Nissan Maxima around 8:30 p.m. when he was shot. Medics pronounced the man dead on the scene at 8:55 p.m.
Investigators said it appeared that the suspect shot the victim through the driver's side window of the car that the victim was driving. Police said the car hit at least one house, but the house did not appear to be badly damaged.
Police were unsure of the circumstances surrounding the shooting, and a detailed description of the suspect was not immediately available.
The victim was unidentifable because of the exent of his injuries, Chief Inspector Scott Small said. Police said the man was between 20 and 30 years old.
As they scoured the scene, police found a shotgun in an alley near Markoe Street and reovered three shotgun shells.
Neighbors of the West Philadelphia block said if it weren't such a rainy night, the murder may never have happened.
"If it wasn't raining, we all would've been out there, the kids would've been out there," said Yanilla Brown, 33, as she and other neighbors watched cops investigate the eerie scene under a sky lit by cracks of lightning.
Brown and other neighbors said they don't recognize the 1997 Nissan sedan the man died in. His body, his face shot off in the blast, lie slumped in the driver's seat as cops milled about the block.
"Another statistic," Brown said, sighing. "It's a shame that someone's son is lying in there like that."
Thunder boomed above as Brown's 7-year-old daughter slipped out of her house and joined her at the corner, peering down the street at the car.
"Mommy, they said they gotta take the body out," the young child said.
Brown covered her daughter's head with her hands and gently moved the young girl back toward home.
"Yeah, but we don't wanna see that," she said.
shotgun blast to the face. nice. this is how we do!!!!!— The Usual Suspects- when will people wake up to the dangers the tea party is causing, derp!— ignorantphillydem
- And City Council is worried to death about Chick-Fil-A.— Wilhelm Von Humboldt
- It amazes me to hear the RACISTS who like to blame Nutter and Ramsey for anything gun related but who fight them tooth and nail whenever they go after STRICTER GUN CONTROL LAWS IN THE CITY.
— phillygtown - Sad,Sad,Sad....I would move ASAP!— Jerryiz
- So the weather is to blame for this recent death. Ok. Good One. The city HAS to be on pace to set the record this year right?— siriusfan
- Forget about Voter ID's the streets are limited the voter population everyday.— siriusfan
- Just as long as they keep killing their own kind what do we care!! dealers kill buyers, buyers kill dealers obviously somebody wanted something he had beside the car.— joe vig
- oh no he di-int!!— The Usual Suspects
- When the real Law breaks down, jungle law takes over. As much as we deny it, we're a few tools, weapons and garments of clothing apart from the savages we evolved from.— DonQ
- Let's all be thankful they're killing each other and helping keep the population down. Imagine if they weren't? The city would be run over by murderous drug dealing thugs. Nice work, guys. Keep trimming the hedges.— The Usual Suspects
- Some of you people here disgust me!! None of you knew this young man! None of you knew his children! None of you knew his parents! I did and do! All he did was work as a mechanic and fix cars as a side job to take care of his children. Not a dealer, buyer, loser, addict, thief or whatever else some of you think he was. Sad how some of you read a story and are already passing judgement. I hope one day you will never have to feel the way I feel about losing someone you love to senseless violence....all because a man pulled over due to the ran, and was shot in the face.— FiNK
- Right. He pulled over in the rain and someone with a shotgun drove by decided to blow off his face. You people really are clueless.— The Usual Suspects
- As I said before "The Usual Suspects".....you dont know him. Instead of you opening your mouth about everything and everyone....maybe you should do more instead of assume. Read the article again Matlock.— FiNK
- People are so quick to judge others and their situations. The fact remains that a man is dead and the killer on the loose. People have ego problems and selfish agendas nowadays. Its not always about drugs, or illegal money. Men kill over women, pride, petty arguments, and jealousy, just like some women kill over love and depression. Everything isnt always drugs and illegal agendas. Another point: Yes i am black and this killing disgusts me, but we cant go pointing the finger everytime it strikes again in a poor,black, struggling, urban neighborhood. Didnt a white boy just shoot up a damn movie theater? Didnt a chinese boy shoot up a college? Every race has its problems. Stop judging and empower your community so things like this wont happen without justice. The rain does not encourage killings, killers know people aint talking!!! Now that encouraging to them. Lets be proactive ppl instead of reacting to problems!! Everyone white, black, chinese, latinos we are all getting KILLED!!— JudgeYaMom
