Police identify suspect charged and 3 people killed in West Philadelphia mass shooting
PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- A man who is among those wounded in the weekend mass shooting in West Philadelphia is now facing charges, police announced on Tuesday.
Nine people were shot just after 2 a.m. Sunday during what officials called an illegal block party on North Alden Street in West Philadelphia. Three of those victims did not survive.
The suspect is identified as 28-year-old Tahir Shoatz. He is being charged with three counts of homicide, five counts of aggravated assault, and related charges.
Shoatz had been shot in the right shoulder, the left shoulder, the right knee, and the abdomen.
More than 100 people were attending the block party when a fight and argument escalated to gunshots.
Altogether nine people, between the ages of 23 and 33, were shot.
Police say two of the fatally shot victims were brothers.
The victims have been identified as 33-year-old Akil Jones, 29-year-old Rashie Jones, and 23-year-old Sakayi Robinson.
"My condolences to the family, particularly the parent who lost two sons," said Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel. "It was not some individual who came up and just randomly started to shoot down the block and shoot nine people. There is an absolute gun battle that goes on, for, though it seems long, it was a short period of time."
WATCH: Officials give an update on deadly West Philadelphia mass shooting
Investigators said that they have viewed surveillance video that shows the violent shootout.
They've recovered three guns, one being recovered at an area hospital.
District Attorney Larry Krasner also spoke and said his office is ready to provide resources and support to survivors and others harmed by this incident.
"This tragedy reminds us that while gun violence continues to decline in Philly and nationwide, we as elected and community leaders still have much work to do," wrote Krasner in a statement.
Questions were answered and promises made as city officials and authorities vowed their support moving forward.
Action News spoke to one neighbor who believes more could have been done.
"Why didn't they stop it? That's my only question. Why didn't the police stop it?" asked Jermaine Butts about the party. "About 7 p.m. or 8 p.m. it was already going on. It wasn't that big at first, then it got bigger. As the police usually do at 8:30 p.m., they pull up, they blow their horns, and tell people to clear the block and open it up. But that never happened."
The 19th Police District held an emergency meeting Tuesday night so both community members and police personnel could discuss the mass shooting.
Their goal was to make sure something like this does not happen again.
"I need the neighbors to be involved and I need them interested in what's going on on their block," said Philadelphia Police Captain Lawrence Nuble.
"We need to start going through our children's things. Because they're bringing it into our homes, I'm telling you," a woman added.
Neighbors packed Vine Memorial Baptist Church on 56th and Girard streets to discuss how they can keep their community safe.
Anti-violence advocate Abdul-Kareem As-Salafi with the Philadelphia Anti-Drug/Anti-Violence Network (PAAN) was in attendance.
He advocated for helping young people who are at risk of turning to violence as their only option.
"A lot of youth don't have, so they go to the other side, whether it be drugs or try to be drill rappers," he noted.
Residents say while that's a good solution to the problem, they also need police to prioritize their needs.
"We still need you guys as law enforcement because you guys sent your whole graduating class to Kensington," one resident said.
