One man was killed and two others are in critical condition after a shooting at an apartment building at 4618 Chester Ave. last night.
Police say a 20-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene with a gunshot wound to the head. Two other men were taken to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and are in critical condition with gunshot wounds to the face and neck.
Police say they are looking for three suspects who were dressed in black and apparently forced their way into the four-story building. Police say the shootings happened in a third-floor apartment. The owner of the building would not comment on who lived in the apartment.
Police said the suspects fled eastbound on Chester Avenue in a dark vehicle.
We will pass along more details as they become available.
Anyone with information can contact Philadelphia Police at 215-686-TIPS (8477), text a tip to PPD TIP (773847) or through phillypolice.com.
December 23rd, 2012 at 11:06 am
This is just awful and my thoughts are with the victims and their families, as they have been for all the other horrible things that have been happening.
I don’t want to go off topic and I dcertainly on’t want to inspire trolls, but it seems like there’s been a sharp increase in incidents like this. Does anyone else feel that way too, why do we think this is happening, and what can we do?
December 23rd, 2012 at 12:24 pm
does anyone know if it’s related to the forced entry at gunpoint on 12/20? it was also on the 4600 block of chester, but no address was given. PPDJoeMurray tweeted about it yesterday.
December 23rd, 2012 at 12:28 pm
Christina, I certainly feel as you do. I used to love this neighborhood, but for the sake of my own wellbeing, I think I need to consider leaving soon.
December 23rd, 2012 at 12:29 pm
These types of shootings usually turn out to be drug related. Christina, I haven’t noticed an increase in drug-related shootings, but I certainly believe there has been a sharp spike in violent crime against the law abiding citizens in our neighborhood.
December 23rd, 2012 at 12:36 pm
This incident certainly seems targetted based on the forced entry to a specific apartment. Many of the other crimes seem to be of along the lines of snatching Iphones. There’s usually a number of those sorts of thefts before Christmas as people are desperate for money.
Obviously my thoughts are with all the victims and their families but let’s hold off on condemning the neighborhood. It’s true that there might be fewer incidents on the Main Line, but you’d miss out on all of the fabulous community and culture of West Philly.
Just my 2 cents…
December 23rd, 2012 at 5:35 pm
I don’t believe the increase in violent crime JJ was referring to is petty theft during the holiday season. Rather, there has been an increase in crimes year-round over the past number of years where people have been seriously hurt (or threatened to be seriously hurt) such as people being shot on their porch during an attempted robbery where the criminal decided he would prefer to just shoot the victim rather than actually take anything, or cyclists being pushed off their bikes for sport, or criminals targeting young mothers walking around the neighborhood (and this is not speculation, it was mentioned by law enforcement), …. Should I go on?
It makes me angry and sad and frustrated. And I do not know what to do about it, and I do not feel safe here after living here for almost a decade. I, too, think it might be time to go. I’d rather visit the city to experience its advantages and feel safe on a daily basis than live here and worry for my safety and that of my family.
December 23rd, 2012 at 6:46 pm
Sadie, I’ve been here almost a decade, too. I moved here in July 2003. I remember some discussion that the successful pressure on drug dealers further west has pushed the criminal element in our direction. There certainly are a lot of easy targets here . . . good, unarmed, law-abiding people. I guess the word has gotten around that we’re a bunch of sitting ducks.
December 23rd, 2012 at 7:28 pm
I can’t speak to changes over decades since I’ve only been in the neighborhood for a couple years. Over that time I’ve seen a lot of shorter spikes and seasonal trends and have struggled with the same balance as you.
I just wanted to emphasize that this is a long term discussion and tension in our lives, not necessarily a specific threat from this particular crime.
Good luck to you and whatever you decide, and let’s keep trying to build communities that are vibrant, diverse and safe wherever we end up!
December 23rd, 2012 at 7:34 pm
How many times does someone have to explain that statistically crime in the area is DOWN and DRASTICALLY DOWN historically but our awareness of the crimes that do occur and the number of sources from which we can learn about crime is UP and DRASTICALLY UP? It sucks to lose neighbors because they trust anecdotes over statistics but if that is the case then perhaps city living is not for them and never was.
December 23rd, 2012 at 7:58 pm
Anonymous, when I move to Bay Head, NJ this coming year, I won’t have to worry about statistics v. anecdotes. You dig?
December 24th, 2012 at 5:48 am
Agree with Tim and Sadie. My family and I are moving too. We won’t be spending another warm season here. It will feel amazing to not have to constantly worry.
December 24th, 2012 at 6:23 am
I agree with anonymous. News is more easily accessible. Which increases FEAR. To bad for us because the more fear we have the more vulnerable we become. People are more easily controlled when they have fear. Its like music to our governments ears. Its Christmas time. Crime is more likely to happen. I am a young white female and no one has ever messed with me in Philly and I have on and off lived here for years. All I know is that my new roommate owns several guns (including an ak) and that shit wouldn’t have gone down in our house. Another reason that I am happy that we have the right to bear arms. I doubt that person even owned there guns legally.
June 13th, 2013 at 3:36 pm
Be careful with that. Statistically guns in the home are misused more than used appropriately.
December 24th, 2012 at 9:27 am
Woopie – if you need an assault weapon to feel safe in a neighborhood then there is a problem with that neighborhood.
December 24th, 2012 at 9:30 am
Yeah…it’s true that sometimes anecdotal data points to overall trends, but I think that in this case it really does not. Before this site started, I had much less knowledge of crimes that were occurring in the neighborhood. Unless something happened to a friend/acquaintance, or was a big story, I wouldn’t know about it. Now, I read about every significant crime happening in the area. Ignorance is bliss but it’s good to know what’s going on, especially local trends that I can easily protect myself from (ex. when people hanging on their porches were being held up at gunpoint right on my block).
I love living here and it’s a bummer to hear that people are leaving due to fear when there are so many positive developments happening in this community. But to each their own and honestly, I couldn’t stand living in the suburbs but if that’s what you want, go for it.
December 25th, 2012 at 10:40 am
I agree, it is much easier to bail on a community and head to the suburbs.
December 29th, 2012 at 7:25 pm
Wasn’t drug related.. So stop that foolishness. One of the guys that died@ the hospital was a good friend of mine. I live in new york and got the new. RIP Wayne
February 5th, 2013 at 1:24 pm
Joseph Murray @PPDJoeMurray
Wanted for murder, Occurred on 12-22 at 4618 Chester Ave. Any info contact Homicide at 215-686-3334. pic.twitter.com/t1YcGZsZ
April 8th, 2013 at 7:44 pm
Rip to my love he didnt deserve to go this way..and died out of the cause of something someone else had done