Police: Man shoots 2 people, then self, in Juniata Park

JUNIATA PARK (WPVI) -- Police say a man shot two people, then himself, in the Juniata Park section of Philadelphia.

The gut-wrenching cries of a neighbor could be heard as word spread that something truly terrible had happened in front of 4205 Malta Street Monday afternoon.

At 12:35 p.m., police responded to 911 calls of a man with a gun, then neighbors heard three gunshots.

Officer found three people lying in the front yard, all with gunshot wounds to the head.

Police believe the gunman was a 42-year-old man who had come to the row home looking for his girlfriend. She wasn't there. Instead, he came upon her 40-year-old sister and his girlfriend's 21-year-old son.

"We do believe the 42-year-old male shot the female and the younger male and then shot himself in the head. All three are shot in the head," Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Dennis Wilson said.

All three were transported to area hospitals in critical condition.

Shortly before 2:00 p.m., the 40-year-old woman was pronounced dead.

All afternoon, neighbors looked on; many of them began to cry as they learned the details of the shooting. They watched the crime scene unit do their work as investigators try to figure out what led up to the violence.

Authorities have recovered the suspected weapon, a .45 caliber revolver, at the scene.

Neighbors tell Action News there had never been any problems before at the home.

Police are looking to see if there are any prior domestic violence incidents involving the couple.