Neighbor kills 2 people and then himself in West Oak Lane: Police
PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Two people are dead after they were killed by their neighbor who then turned the gun on himself in Philadelphia's West Oak Lane neighborhood, according to police.
Officers responded around 4 p.m. Wednesday after reports of several gunshots on the 7300 block of Walnut Lane.
According to Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small, a 77-year-old man and a 76-year-old woman were returning from the store with groceries when their neighbor shot them.
The man was found dead on the front porch and the woman later died at the hospital. Both suffered multiple gunshot wounds.
Small says the suspect gunman, believed to be in his 50s, then shot himself in the head. He was found dead alongside the male victim on the porch.
Neighbors who witnessed the murders were horrified.
"I watched the whole thing from my bedroom window," recalled Dashanae Diego of West Oak Lane. "I could see the lady still breathing so I ran over to put pressure on the wound."
Witnesses told police that there had been ongoing disputes between the victims and the suspect. It's unclear if this was a motive for the shooting.
Police are working to determine the relationship between the victims and their identities.
Small says a gun was found at the scene and they're not looking for anyone else in connection with this crime.
This is the first double murder-suicide in Philadelphia since 2018, according to the 6abc Data Journalism Team. Homicides are also down 39% in the city compared to this time last year, but that's little consolation to neighbors.
"They were good people. They didn't deserve this," said Denise Gainey, of West Oak Lane
Anyone with information is asked to call police at 215-686-TIPS.
