Two dead in weekend violence in Philadelphia

Philadelphia rang in the Chinese New Year, the Year of the Rat, this weekend with one of the worst traits associated with that sign - aggression.

In 12 hours, from Saturday evening to yesterday morning, two people were killed and four others wounded following numerous shootings and a hit-and-run.

One of the deaths has been declared a homicide. The other, in which Ismael Valentin, 27, of the city's Mayfair section, was shot numerous times at the 7400 Apartments on Roosevelt Boulevard near Bleigh Avenue in the city's Rhawnhurst section, remains under investigation, homicide Sgt. Ron McClane said.

The shooting occurred at 4:48 p.m. Saturday inside a stairwell, but Valentin managed to stumble outside the apartment complex, where he died a short time later, police said. The confirmed homicide occurred shortly before midnight Saturday on 31st Street near Ridge Avenue, in the city's Strawberry Mansion section.

When police arrived, they found Julius Dante Hall, 26, of Van Pelt Street near Diamond, on the side of the road with multiple gunshot wounds to his head, leg and torso, said Homicide Lt. Mel Williams.

Hall was taken to Temple University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 12:12 a.m., Williams said.

This weekend's youngest victim, a 2-year-old boy, was severely injured in a hit-and-run accident at 8:30 p.m. Saturday, on Cambria Street near Amber, in the city's Port Richmond section.

Investigators withheld the boy's name but said he was transported to St. Christopher's Hospital, where he was in critical condition.

Listed in critical condition at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital was a 26-year-old man whom police also declined to identify.

He was shot twice in both his right thigh and buttocks about 4 a.m. yesterday, on Spring Garden Street near Front, in the city's Northern Liberties section, police said.

Two unidentified men, shot within minutes of each other yesterday, were in stable condition at Temple, police said.

The first man was shot in the left leg and right arm at 2 a.m. on Germantown Avenue near Venango Street and the second was shot in his right side at 2:04 a.m. on Butler Street near 18th, police said. *

Staff writer Regina Medina contributed to this report.