Philadelphia mass shooting: Five victims identified as 40-year-old Kingsessing gunman’s motive unclear

During a news conference Tuesday afternoon, Philadelphia authorities said the suspected gunman responsible for the mass shooting that left five dead and seven injured was in custody but had not yet been charged.

Philadelphia Police Department Homicide Commanding Officer Ernest Ransom said indictments would be made “soon”. These charges could include first-degree murder, firearms-related charges, and aggravated assault.

Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw assured the community she was “confident” in having the person responsible in custody and that there was “no reason to believe there are any other suspects”.

Before the end of a long July 4 holiday weekend, nearly a dozen mass shootings across the country injured more than 75 people and killed at least 11, hastening the already rapid number of mass shootings in the country this year in the United States.

At least 346 mass shootings were recorded in the first six months of 2023 and up to the 4th weekend of July, i.e. at least one per day and more than the number of mass shootings at similar times on the calendar in previous years.

A mass shooting at a festival in Fort Worth, Texas, on July 3 killed three people and wounded eight others. Five people were killed and two others injured when a gunman in a bulletproof vest shot at a crowd of strangers in Philadelphia that same night.

And in Baltimore on July 2, two people were fatally shot and 28 others — half of them children — were injured during a Baltimore block party.

Seven people, including two children, were shot dead in a mass shooting in a Philadelphia neighborhood Monday night.

Just hours before the Fourth of July celebrations, police responded to gunfire and found several gunshot victims and about 50 bullet casings.

Of those shot, five adults were killed and two children injured.

Police from the Philadelphia Police Department arrested the suspected shooter after chasing him on foot. Police arrested the man, who was armed with an AR-15 rifle, handgun, bulletproof vest and several magazines.

The shooting is the 340th mass shooting in the United States this year.

A press conference will be held Tuesday at 3:00 p.m. EDT to update the public on the tragic shooting in Philadelphia.

Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner, Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw and Mayor Jim Kenney will speak.

Police have identified the five victims killed in Monday night’s mass shooting in Kingsessing.

• Lashyd Merritt, 20
• Dymir Stanton, 29
• Ralph Moralis, 59
• Daujan Brown, 15
• Joseph Wamah Jr., 31

President Joe Biden, in a statement issued Tuesday after multiple shootings, said he mourns the lives lost and prays for a day when communities are free from gun violence.

“In the past few days, our nation has witnessed another wave of tragic and senseless community shootings across America — from Philadelphia to Fort Worth, Baltimore to Lansing, Wichita to Chicago,” Mr. Biden said.

He added, “Today Jill and I mourn those who lost their lives, and as our nation celebrates Independence Day, we pray for the day when our communities will be free from gun violence.”

Mr. Biden urged Republican lawmakers in Congress to “come together around the table on meaningful, common-sense reforms” to prevent future mass shootings.

“We have the power to re-ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, require safe storage of weapons, remove gun manufacturers’ immunity from liability, and implement universal background checks,” Mr. Biden said.

Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney expressed frustration Monday at the tragic shooting that killed five people and injured two, and said the United States needs to “reconsider” its approach to gun laws.

“Where does a person like that get an AR-15 from,” Mr. Kenney told reporters ahead of the Fourth of July celebrations in the city on Tuesday. “Where does a guy like that get a semi-automatic handgun? Where does a person like that buy a Kevlar vest?”

“This country needs to rethink its consciousness when it comes to Congress or the state legislature and figure out how we’re going to get these guns out of the hands of these people.”

Mr Kenney went on to say that the alleged gunman, an adult male, had a “stockpile of guns at his home” in addition to the AR-15 rifle and handgun the alleged gunman allegedly used in the shooting.

The mayor of Philadelphia said once police determine where the suspect found his firearms, there will be consequences.

“This gun dealer or gun show should be sued until they go out of business. It’s just ridiculous. “Any family member of anyone who was killed or even injured in this incident should team up with a major law firm and bring these arms dealers down,” Mr. Kenney added.

Police from the Philadelphia Police Department are not sure what the motive behind the shooting was.

“At this point, all we know is that this individual made the decision to leave home and target individuals,” Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw said in a news conference.

Ms Outlaw said Monday night there was no clear link between the alleged gunman and any of the seven victims.

“Absolutely no idea why this happened,” added Ms. Outlaw.

On July 4, 2022, the city of Philadelphia’s Independence Day celebrations were marred by horror when a gunman opened fire, injuring two police officers.

A year later, another seven people were shot dead, five of whom are dead, after a gunman armed with an AR-15 rifle opened fire in a Philadelphia neighborhood.

Last year, Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney expressed his disappointment with the relaxation of gun laws, making it easier for people to access firearms.

“I worry every day. There isn’t an event or a day that I don’t go on, lying on my back, looking at the ceiling and worrying,” Mr. Kenney said last year.

“I don’t like the Fourth of July, I don’t like the Democratic National Convention. I didn’t like the NFL draft. I keep waiting for something bad to happen.”

Mr Kenney’s fears came true again this weekend of July 4th.

In a news conference Monday night, Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw said the suspect in the Philadelphia shooting was armed with an AR-15 and pistol and was wearing a bulletproof vest.

Ms Outlaw said the suspect who was taken into custody also had a scanner and several magazines in his vest.