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| Shootings in Philadelphia May Have Been Random, District Attorney Says | Shootings in Philadelphia May Have Been Random, District Attorney Says |
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| The killing of five people in southwest Philadelphia on Monday night may have been a random act of violence, as opposed to a targeted shooting, according to Larry Krasner, the Philadelphia district attorney. | The killing of five people in southwest Philadelphia on Monday night may have been a random act of violence, as opposed to a targeted shooting, according to Larry Krasner, the Philadelphia district attorney. |
| “At first look, it seems to bear the characteristics of a lot of random mass shootings that occur in the United States,” he said in an interview on 56th Street in the Kingsessing neighborhood where the shooting took place, adding, “This does not appear to be a whole bunch of people who knew each other very well.” | “At first look, it seems to bear the characteristics of a lot of random mass shootings that occur in the United States,” he said in an interview on 56th Street in the Kingsessing neighborhood where the shooting took place, adding, “This does not appear to be a whole bunch of people who knew each other very well.” |
| A heavily armed gunman, wearing a bulletproof vest, opened fire in the neighborhood on Monday evening, killing five people and injuring at least two others, the police said. | A heavily armed gunman, wearing a bulletproof vest, opened fire in the neighborhood on Monday evening, killing five people and injuring at least two others, the police said. |
| Mr. Krasner said law-enforcement officials are looking “very, very closely” for any connection between the suspect and his victims, or any connection among the victims. | Mr. Krasner said law-enforcement officials are looking “very, very closely” for any connection between the suspect and his victims, or any connection among the victims. |
| Mr. Krasner said he expects to see charges of multiple homicides and weapons offenses filed against the suspected shooter in the next 24 hours. | Mr. Krasner said he expects to see charges of multiple homicides and weapons offenses filed against the suspected shooter in the next 24 hours. |
| The dead were all male, between the ages of 15 and 59, the police said, and two children, aged 2 and 13, were also hospitalized and were stable. | |
| A male suspect was taken into custody by the police just before 8:40 p.m., and authorities said they had recovered a semiautomatic rifle, a handgun and another gun in the alleyway behind the 1600 block of South Frazier Street. | A male suspect was taken into custody by the police just before 8:40 p.m., and authorities said they had recovered a semiautomatic rifle, a handgun and another gun in the alleyway behind the 1600 block of South Frazier Street. |
| A second person who the police believed had “picked up the gun and returned fire in the direction of the shooter” was also in custody, Danielle M. Outlaw, the police commissioner, said at a news conference late Monday night. | A second person who the police believed had “picked up the gun and returned fire in the direction of the shooter” was also in custody, Danielle M. Outlaw, the police commissioner, said at a news conference late Monday night. |
| Police officers, who were on foot, arrested the suspect in an alley, she said. The suspect was wearing a bulletproof vest containing “multiple magazines” and had an AR-style rifle, a handgun and a police scanner. | Police officers, who were on foot, arrested the suspect in an alley, she said. The suspect was wearing a bulletproof vest containing “multiple magazines” and had an AR-style rifle, a handgun and a police scanner. |
| Commissioner Outlaw said she did not know whether the gunman was firing from the handgun or the rifle, but said he was still “actively shooting” when he was taken into custody. | Commissioner Outlaw said she did not know whether the gunman was firing from the handgun or the rifle, but said he was still “actively shooting” when he was taken into custody. |
| “Thank God our officers responded as quickly as they did,” she said. “I can’t even describe the level of bravery and courage that was shown.” | “Thank God our officers responded as quickly as they did,” she said. “I can’t even describe the level of bravery and courage that was shown.” |
| About 50 spent shell casings were found at the crime scene, which covered a two-by-four-block area, the commissioner said. | About 50 spent shell casings were found at the crime scene, which covered a two-by-four-block area, the commissioner said. |
| State Representative Joanna McClinton, who represents the Kingsessing neighborhood in the Pennsylvania House, said the shooting is a reminder to state lawmakers that they should allow Philadelphia to set its own gun laws. | State Representative Joanna McClinton, who represents the Kingsessing neighborhood in the Pennsylvania House, said the shooting is a reminder to state lawmakers that they should allow Philadelphia to set its own gun laws. |
| “It’s a reminder that assault weapons should not be available for purchase to anybody, they are for the military,” she said. | “It’s a reminder that assault weapons should not be available for purchase to anybody, they are for the military,” she said. |
| In recent years, Philadelphia has been plagued by gun violence, with more deadly shootings than far bigger cities. But there have been 212 homicides in 2023 so far, a decline of 19 percent from 2022, according to the Office of the Controller. | In recent years, Philadelphia has been plagued by gun violence, with more deadly shootings than far bigger cities. But there have been 212 homicides in 2023 so far, a decline of 19 percent from 2022, according to the Office of the Controller. |
| The city government has rolled out an array of efforts to address the crisis, including grants for community groups, violence intervention programs and earlier curfews. And it has sued the gun-friendly state legislature for pre-empting its authority to enact stronger local gun laws, like reporting requirements for lost or stolen guns. | The city government has rolled out an array of efforts to address the crisis, including grants for community groups, violence intervention programs and earlier curfews. And it has sued the gun-friendly state legislature for pre-empting its authority to enact stronger local gun laws, like reporting requirements for lost or stolen guns. |
| But the sheer number of guns in the city has made the problem difficult to tackle. | But the sheer number of guns in the city has made the problem difficult to tackle. |
| Emma Hilton, 70, who lives on 56th Street, where shots were fired, said the shooting is the third she has experienced in the 11 years she has lived in the neighborhood. | Emma Hilton, 70, who lives on 56th Street, where shots were fired, said the shooting is the third she has experienced in the 11 years she has lived in the neighborhood. |
| “I’m getting ready to get out of here,” she said on her front porch a few feet from where the police commissioner gave her statement to reporters. “It’s bad around here.” | “I’m getting ready to get out of here,” she said on her front porch a few feet from where the police commissioner gave her statement to reporters. “It’s bad around here.” |
| The shooting was the latest this year of at least 343 incidents across the nation in which four or more people were injured or killed, according to the Gun Violence Archive. The organization has documented more than 600 mass shootings in the United States in each of the last three years. | The shooting was the latest this year of at least 343 incidents across the nation in which four or more people were injured or killed, according to the Gun Violence Archive. The organization has documented more than 600 mass shootings in the United States in each of the last three years. |
| Amy Harmon contributed reporting. | Amy Harmon contributed reporting. |