Police are investigating another shooting outside of a residence in the Cedar Park neighborhood last night, on the same block where a man was shot and wounded last Friday. Police say shots were fired Thursday night around 6:30 p.m., on the 4900 block of Catharine Street.

Officers from the 18th District responded to a call of “a person with a gun” and found eight shell casings. Police say no victims were present. The investigation continues.

A man who was reportedly released on parole was shot in both legs at around 6:30 p.m. last night on the 4900 block of Catharine Street, about 20 feet from the Cedar Park playground.

Police showed up soon after shooting was reported, but couldn’t find any victims. Later they found the 32-year-old man at Temple University hospital where he had been dropped off, according to GunCrisis.org. The victim is listed in stable condition. A house near where the man was shot has been associated with criminal activity, according to a neighbor. Apparently, it was a shootout between two people.

GunCrisis.org reports that the shooting was one of at least a half-dozen across the city last night.

Some residents near the corner of St. Bernard and Springfield are reporting that they heard between four and six gunshots and screaming just before 3 a.m. this morning outside of the African Cultural Center, which has been criticized in the past for late-night parties. They witnessed a lot of people running away from the center’s entrance, towards their cars to leave. Several police cars later arrived. At this point it’s not known if any arrests were made or if anyone was injured.

Several residents worked last year to bring attention to late-night events at the cultural center, which in recent years has been rented out by the owners for cover-charge events that typically run into the early morning hours. The problem is that the center, which also occasionally hosts wedding receptions and other events, is in a residential area.

– Mike Lyons

The District Attorney’s Office today withdrew attempted murder and related charges against 16-year-old Eric Early, who was arrested with his brother Matthew in connection with the Dec. 12 shooting at the 46th Street El, which was caught on surveillance video.

Eric Early, who turned 17 a few days after the shooting, was charged as an adult. The shooting made national headlines. Surveillance video from the train and at the station shows both brothers in an argument with an older man in a Chicago Bulls hat. The argument was reportedly over the Bulls-76ers game earlier that night at the Wells Fargo Center. Police say surveillance video shows that, after exiting the train, Matthew Early turned and fired one shot from a handgun, striking the man in the stomach and another man in the leg.

Matthew Early is charged with attempted murder and gun-related charges. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Jan. 17 at 9:30 a.m. in courtroom 1006. He is currently being held in lieu of $2.5 million bail. Matthew turned 18 two days before the shooting.

– Mike Lyons

Police last night apprehended the teen suspected of shooting two men at the 46th Street El stop earlier this month.

Matthew Early, 18, was taken into custody in a friend’s home on the 1700 block of N. 27th St. at about 6 p.m. on Friday, police said. Police apprehended his brother, 17-year-old Eric Early, on Dec. 16. Both brothers live on the 100 block of S. 49th St.

Both teens were on the run after they were named as suspects shown in surveillance video firing a single shot into a train car on Dec. 12 following an argument with a Chicago Bulls fan returning home from the Bulls-Sixers game earlier that night. One man was shot through the stomach and a man standing behind him was hit with the same bullet in the leg.

Police say Matthew Early was the shooter. Both brothers have been charged with attempted murder and aggravated assault. Eric Early has been charged as an adult, police said.

 

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.

Update: Police said Tuesday that they apprehended Eric Early near Erie and Torresedale avenues. They also added attempted murder to his list of charges. Police also changed his age from 16 to 17.

Police have apprehended one of two teenage brothers wanted in connection with the shooting at the 46th street El stop on Wednesday,  Dec. 12. 16-year-old Eric Early was taken into custody today and charged with Aggravated Assault. Police are still searching for his brother, 18-year-old Matthew Early.

Photo: Philly Police Blog.