Philadelphia murder possibly connected to brutal corner store beating: Police
Police say a 26-year-old man was found shot to death on the 5900 block of North Norwood Street.
PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Philadelphia police believe a suspect responsible for a violent attack became the victim of a murder a short time later.
Police say a 26-year-old man, later identified as Omar Freeman, was found shot to death on the 5900 block of North Norwood Street around 6 p.m. Sunday in the city's Ogontz section.
Authorities say Freeman was shot at least seven times.
According to police, he lived a block away from the shooting scene.
"We know the individual was clearly the intended target and the shooter or shooters shot at him literally inches from his body and continued to shoot while he was down," said Philadelphia Police Inspector DF Pace. "It was a brutal killing, and he was pronounced shortly after arrival at the hospital."
Police say Freeman is believed to have been involved a beating and robbery earlier in the evening.
According to police, he and another man attacked two other men at a corner store on the 2000 block of Church Lane.
"This happened very shortly before this homicide occurred so we are now exploring the connection between the robbery that this victim perpetrated," said Pace.
Police say one robbery victim was hospitalized for serious injuries. A second victim was also severely beaten, but police say that they are still searching for him at this time.
According to Pace, officers arrested the second suspect in the corner store beating around 8 p.m. when he reportedly showed back up to the crime scene on Church Lane.
There was no immediate word on his identity or what charges he is facing.
Officers are still searching for the gunman who killed Freeman on North Norwood Street, as well as the other robbery victim.
Anyone with information is asked to call police at 215-686-TIPS.
