Father, 9-year-old son killed in one of several Memorial Day weekend shootings in Philly
The father and son had just returned from a cookout and were still sitting in the car.
PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Philadelphia police are investigating a shooting that killed a man and his son on Sunday night, one of several violent scenes over the Memorial Day weekend.
Family members have identified the victims as 37-year-old Gerald "Jerry" Parks and 9-year-old Jamel Parks.
It happened shortly after 10:30 p.m. on Carver Street near Torresdale Avenue in the city's Wissinoming section.
The father and son had just returned from a cookout and were still sitting in their car.
Vanessa Frame lost her husband and son in one night.
"I don't understand how this can happen," Frame told Action News on Monday morning.
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"I was lying in bed with my daughter, and I heard a whole bunch of shots, and I'm like, 'I don't know if it's firecrackers,'" she recalled.
"I came outside, and they were saying somebody was shot. So I went to see if it was his car- and it was. And he was just in there. Just lying there.
"I grabbed my son, and he just was like- could clearly see he was gone," Frame said.
Officers examined bullet holes in the victims' car and shell casings in the street.
Two houses were also struck by gunfire.
"The crime scene consists of at least 13 rounds from two separate caliber weapons, striking both victims multiple times," according to Philadelphia Police Inspector D.F. Pace.
Pace continued, "The vehicle was struck multiple times as were two houses in the backdrop. And it appears after the shooters who began shooting at the vehicle as they were approaching it, they continued shooting at the vehicle as they were driving away."
Arriving officers rushed the victims to area hospitals.
Jerry Parks was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at the hospital.
Jamel was taken to Saint Christopher's for Children where he was also pronounced dead.
The family has now created a GoFundMe page to help with expenses.
Jamel is the second of three kids, much loved by his friends and family, including his older brother and younger sister.
"Jamel was the most fun-loving, little boy ever. Like- the most sensitive, always wants to hug you. He wants to kiss you. He's just the sweetest little boy ever," said Vanessa.
And she said dad Jerry kept them all laughing.
"He always had you laughing- jokes every five minutes. Dancing everywhere he goes. He wasn't the type to get into stuff like that so I'm confused on who would do it because he's not that type of person," Vanessa said.
No arrests have been made.
More Philadelphia Shootings
The Memorial Day weekend in Philadelphia has been a violent one. Of the 36 people shot since Friday, police say 13 victims died from their injuries.
Below is a list of several other shootings under investigation by police:
Police Hear Fatal Gunshots
An unidentified man was shot and killed at 16th Street and Erie Avenue in the Tioga-Nicetown section of the city around 1 a.m. Monday.
Police said the victim, who is between the ages of 16 and 20, was shot multiple times throughout his body.
At least 23 shell casings were found at the scene.
Investigators say two to three suspects walked up to the victim and opened fire.
39th district officers were nearby and heard the gunshots. They responded and found the victim.
He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Man Shot in Car
Authorities said two suspects approached a 36-year-old man as he was sitting in a vehicle on the 2800 block of Kensington Avenue in Port Richmond around 3:30 a.m. Monday.
Police said at least 10 shots were fired and the victim was struck multiple times.
He was taken by friends to the hospital in extremely critical condition.
Fatal Quadruple Shooting
Police are also investigating a quadruple shooting in Port Richmond that left two dead and two others, including a teenager, injured.
This happened on the 2900 block of East Tioga Street.
Initially, police responded to a report of a triple shooting.
A woman, between the ages of 20 and 25, was found shot in the head. She was taken to the hospital where she was pronounced dead.
A second female victim was also taken to hospital where she died.
A 14-year-old girl was shot once in the right shoulder. She was taken by private car to St. Christopher's Hospital for Children for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.
Later, police found a 21-year-old male shooting victim on the 2700 block of East Ontario Street, a few blocks from the original shooting scene.
Police learned he had been wounded during the Tioga Street shooting and managed to make his way to Ontario Street.
He was taken to the hospital in extremely critical condition.
Germantown Death Investigation
A death investigation is underway in Germantown.
Officers responded to reports of a person shot just before 4:50 a.m. Monday on the 5700 block of Anderson Street.
Police located a 66-year-old male suffering from a wound to the side of his body. They have not confirmed if it was from a gunshot at this time.
Police said no shell casings were found at the scene, but a nearby vehicle did have a bullet hole and neighbors said they heard gunshots.
The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.
Nearly 70 shots fired blocks away from Temple University
One person is dead and another is seriously injured after nearly 70 gunshots were fired in North Philadelphia Monday evening.
It happened around 6:38 p.m. in the area of Oxford and Bouvier streets, just blocks away from Temple University.
Police say a 23-year-old man died from his injuries. The second victim, a 26-year-old man, was listed as critical at an area hospital.
Anyone with information on these shootings is asked to call 215-686-TIPS.
