New photos released of another person of interest being sought in South Street mass shooting

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Philadelphia police are searching for two persons of interest in connection with Saturday's mass shooting on South Street.

On Wednesday, police released new images and video of another male being sought in the case.

Police are also still searching for a young male who they released images of earlier this week. They said he should be considered armed and dangerous.

A $30,000 reward is being offered.
[Ads /]
Anyone with information is asked to call police at 215-686-TIPS.



On Monday, police announced the arrests of two suspects for their alleged roles in the weekend shooting that killed three people and left 11 others shot and wounded.



Only Action News was there as a man identified as Rashaan Vereen, 34, was taken into police headquarters on Monday night. U.S. Marshals made the arrest in the 2300 block of Hemberger Street in South Philadelphia.

He is being charged with attempted murder and other related offenses.



A second suspect, Quran Garner, 18, is charged with multiple offenses, including aggravated assault and aggravated assault on law enforcement. He did not have a license to carry a gun, Assistant District Attorney Joanne Pescatore said



According to the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office, an arrest warrant for charges of murder has been approved, though, authorities are not releasing the same of the suspect at this time.

"The District Attorney's Office has approved an arrest warrant for the murder of one of the two innocent bystanders killed during the South Street mass shooting on Saturday night. We will not be releasing identifying information until such time as that individual is brought into custody by law enforcement," the DA's office said Wednesday.

Among the three people killed were two innocent bystanders, identified as 22-year-old Kristopher Minners and 27-year-old Alexis Quinn.

The third person killed has been identified as 34-year-old Gregory "Japan" Jackson, who authorities said was one of the shooters.

Of the 11 wounded, a man identified as Mika Townes remains in serious condition.

Surveillance video obtained by ABC News and 6abc shows what unfolded at about 11:30 p.m. Saturday on South Street.

In the video, Jackson and Townes are seen exchanging words. Then Jackson pulls a gun. The video then shows Jackson and Vereen beating Townes, followed by a gunfire exchange. Both Townes and Jackson are hit.



The District Attorney's Office said both Jackson and Townes had a license to carry.

Police sources confirm Vereen is the man seen in the video picking up Jackson's gun and passing it off to someone in a blue hoodie. Then he stays with Jackson.

Garner was identified as one of the shooters.



"Quran Garner is on video shooting back toward the area where the initial confrontation takes place between Gregory Jackson and Mika Townes, who is a victim in this particular case. (Quran Garner), it's our belief, was a friend or was with Mika Townes when this initial altercation starts," Pescatore said.

"After the initial altercation, guns are drawn by Gregory Jackson and Mika Townes. Gregory Jackson shoots at Mika Townes first. Mika Townes returns fire, shooting and killing Gregory Jackson. As a result of that, Quran Garner then begins to fire down the street towards South Street, towards where the initial confrontation took place."
[Ads /]
Officials said officers assigned to the 200 block of South Street heard the initial gunfire and quickly responded.

Investigators said Garner then pointed his gun at police. Officers fired and hit his hand.

"It is at that point that Philadelphia police began to shoot after Quran Garner pulls a gun, has gone out and looks in their direction. They shoot at him, shooting his hands," Pescatore said.

Pescatore said Garner was taken to Jefferson University Hospital for surgery for "an injury sustained when the police shot back at him."

Pescatore said Garner used a ghost gun with an extended magazine. It was left at the scene.

The DA's Office said they believe several of those connected to the shooting are part of the local boxing scene.

District Attorney Larry Krasner said at least four guns - three 9mm weapons and one 40-caliber firearm - were involved in the mass shooting. He said it is possible there are more firearms involved.



Queen Village residents meet with commissioner and district attorney

Business owners in the city's Queen Village neighborhood are used to a lot of traffic, but residents say something needs to be done to handle the increasing crowds at night along South Street.

Quality of life concerns came up the most at Wednesday's meeting inside the Nebinger School auditorium. People are concerned about smaller situations escalating to bigger problems. Community members think their points were made clear. Now they hope to see them get resolved.

"These people came out because they really want to hear you be as honest and as genuine as you can be," said Eleanor Ingersoll, president of Queen Village Neighbors Association.

"I want to know what you're doing about these people committing complete lawlessness every other day," said one audience member.

Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw says patrols are not staffed like they were back in the day, with multiple events happening in the city in one weekend.

"Officers saying their hands are tied and they can't do this or do that, we are making it very clear my direction has been: your job is to not only be present, enforce the laws and to get ahead of something before it happens," explained Outlaw.

Businesses want change

A normally scheduled South Street Headhouse Business Improvement District meeting was anything but normal Wednesday.

Small business owners and residents say they are scared and deeply concerned about what they describe as recent lawlessness in their community coming to a head this past weekend.

Councilman Mark Squilla says Wednesday's meeting was productive.

"Let's all get in the room together, find out what these challenges are and if we have to change things legislatively we will. But, if not, what can we do right now to make sure people know we're out there protecting them and making them feel safe again?" he said.

But several people who attended Wednesday's meeting say the time for talking is over.

That includes Greg "Spoonie" Rand of O'Neal's Pub who says, "Whatever policies or actions or things we have in place now are not working. So, we obviously need to change that and everybody doesn't know the answer, but we can not do anything because then it'll just continue."

Remembering the victims

Family and friends of both Alexis Quinn and Kris Minners spoke about their loved ones Tuesday.

Quinn is being remembered as a loving daughter whose favorite color was purple and someone who learned every new TikTok dance.

Her mother, Tina Quinn, called the 24-year-old her "mini-me." Her daughter affectionately called her mother "old lady."

"That's what I'm going to miss. I'll miss the morning phone calls. Every day she called me: 'Hey! Hey old lady, what're you doing?'" Tina Quinn said.



Balloons were released during a Tuesday night vigil for Girard College resident advisor Kris Minners.

"The world lost a light this past Sunday," said James Turner, the interim president for Girard College.

The college is a five-day boarding school in Philadelphia for students grades 1-12.

Students as young as 7-years-old remembered the resident advisor as someone who poured his heart and soul into his students.
[Ads /]

Searching for solutions

The mass shooting has stakeholders renewing calls for solutions to gun violence, a prolific problem in the city of Philadelphia.

"We are experiencing a slow-moving massacre that we pay the most attention to during these horrific mass shootings or a particularly horrific story," said Adam Garber, the executive director of CeaseFirePA.

Garber said the easy access to firearms will continue to destroy the city unless state and federal legislators take action. Garber suggests toughening up enforcement and making sure gun shops are selling guns legally.

"Treat them like a restaurant," said Garber. "Restaurants get inspected regularly. If they have rats, if they have other problems, they get shut down until they clean up. Gun stores get none of that. They barely get inspected at all, many not for years. And that means they can facilitate illegal transactions like straw purchases. They can be lax on things like background checks and they can ignore warning signs."



For the first time since Saturday's shooting, residents and business owners had the chance to voice their concerns face to face with Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney on Tuesday.

Ishkabbibles, located on the 300 block of South Street, now closes three hours early on Friday and Saturday nights.

Owner Young Ahn has owned the business for 21 years. He said the violence has steadily escalated, but he's concerned if officers block the street on weekends, he'll miss many third-party app delivery opportunities.