Suspect's mother and stepfather among victims of triple homicide in Lawncrest

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- A man wanted for shooting four people inside a home in the Lawncrest section of Philadelphia, leaving three of them dead, has died after exchanging gunfire with police.

The gunman has been identified as 41-year-old Jahad Snead.

The victims include 63-year-old Denise Snead-Doram and 61-year-old Greg Doram, the gunman's own mother and stepfather.

The third person who was killed was identified as 42-year-old Nina O'Brien of the 500 block of Pelham Rd.

The quadruple shooting happened at about 4:50 a.m. Monday in a home Snead shared with his mother and stepfather in the 6100 block of Shelbourne Street.

Police and medics responded and found three people dead in the front room.

The fourth shooting victim, the suspect's sister, survived and was taken to an area hospital to be treated for gunshot wounds, police said.

She was able to tell officers who to look for.

Based on the information from the victim, police started searching for the man who left the shooting scene driving a blue Honda Pilot.

According to Interim Police Commissioner John Stanford, officers located the vehicle shortly after 7 a.m. at E. Phil Ellena and Ross streets in East Mount Airy.

Officers say they were originally responding to a wellness check and saw the suspect's Pilot as they were leaving the scene.

Police say they observed a female driver in the Pilot alongside a male passenger whose seat was reclined back.

When officers confirmed the Pilot was the same one involved in the triple homicide, the car was pulled over. The driver sped off, prompting police to pursue the SUV.

The car was forced to stop when a police cruiser made contact with the Pilot's rear bumper.

Once police stopped the Pilot, they say Officer William Betts ordered Snead to exit the passenger side door. Snead then fired one shot at the officers.

Officer Betts, 32, returned fire and hit Snead.

The suspect was taken to the hospital in critical condition and died a short time later.

Officer Betts was injured by glass and was also taken to an area hospital to be checked out.

Police said the second person in the Pilot is now being questioned. It is not yet clear if this person is connected to the quadruple shooting.

Officer Betts, a 6-year veteran of the police department, is on administrative duty pending the outcome of an investigation.

Detrick Lowman said his aunt and uncle were two of the victims killed in the shooting.

"Just the greatest people ever, loving, outgoing, super church-going. Nothing you couldn't get him to do, nothing you couldn't get them to do," Lowman said.

"This is a lot to process right now, to know your own family is responsible for a crazy scene like this," Lowman continued.

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