Names released of 3 people killed in West Oak Lane murder-suicide

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- A man and a woman are dead after they were shot by their neighbor, who then fatally shot 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.

Investigators say 77-year-old Clinton Quarles and 76-year-old Linda Beeks were returning from the store with groceries when their neighbor shot them.

"I heard gunshots pulling up to the block and I looked over and I saw Linda literally facing the street and I thought she just fell with the groceries going in the house," said Andrea Laughton, who knows the family.

Their neighbor, identified as 66-year-old Alvinn Berry, then shot himself in the head, police say.

Quarles and Berry were found dead on the home's front porch. Beeks was rushed to the hospital where she later died.

They lived with their niece, Vanessa Smith.

"They were the sweetest people you could ever meet. Very kind," said Smith on Thursday.

She says they called police about Berry before.

"My aunt and uncle told me he was saying very mean things to them. Like he was going to shoot them," she said.

Witnesses told police that there had been ongoing disputes between the victims and the gunman. It's unclear if this was a motive for the shooting.

Police officials confirmed there is a previous police report at that residence, but wouldn't release details.

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."

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.