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Two teens shot to death in Philly

A teenager shot in daylight at a crowded corner in West Philadelphia died just 12 hours after another teen was fatally shot in South Philadelphia.

A teenager shot in daylight at a crowded corner in West Philadelphia died just 12 hours after another teen was fatally shot in South Philadelphia.

The deaths were among at least three unrelated slayings within two days, keeping homicide detectives busy over the weekend.

Michael Barham, 17, of 58th Street near Ludlow, had been at the corner of 52d and Market Streets, near the elevated train tracks, when a gunman sitting on the platform steps opened fire about 1:45 p.m., said Sgt. Bob Wilkins.

More than a dozen passersby were in the area when the gunman, who was possibly in his teens and was with several others, started shooting.

"People were coming in and out of the El and others were waiting on the corner for the bus," Wilkins said. "Luckily, he didn't hit nobody else."

Barham initially was on the south side of the tracks and tried to flee, falling from his wounds on the north side of the tracks. He was hit four times in the chest, one shoulder, and the buttocks, authorities said. He was pronounced dead at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.

The gunman reportedly ran east on Market and north on Paxon Street, Wilkins said. Authorities said it appeared Barham was the intended target, but they were still trying to determine why.

"There was no argument, so it must have been from something that happened prior to that," Wilkins said.

Earlier Sunday, about 1:45 a.m., Saideen Lewis, 16, was shot in the head. Police said the teen was found near his home in the 1400 block of South Marston Street in South Philadelphia.

It appears, police said, the gunman had targeted the victim, who had just been dropped off by friends when at least two assailants approached and chased him a short distance. After the shooting, the assailants were seen running east on Reed Street, police said.

The victim was pronounced dead shortly after arrival at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Authorities were trying to determine a motive in that slaying as well.

The weekend's first slaying occurred about 10:18 p.m. Saturday, also in South Philadelphia.

Police said they found the victim, identified as Jamal Parker, 33, on the sidewalk in the 1900 block of South 21st Street, several blocks from his home in the 2000 block of Sigel Street.

Parker, who had sustained multiple gunshot wounds, was pronounced dead at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.

Police said they had not identified suspects or a motive in Parker's slaying.

Anyone with information about any of the shootings is asked to call homicide detectives at 215-686-3334.