Philadelphia police identify two 17-year-olds killed in Point Breeze quadruple shooting
"I honestly feel like bad guys are winning," said councilman during Gun Violence Prevention hearing
PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- A quadruple shooting left two teens dead and two others injured in Philadelphia's Point Breeze section on Wednesday night.
It happened around 8:30 p.m. on the 1800 block of Moore Street.
Police say two 17-year-old males were shot multiple times throughout the body. They were rushed to an area hospital where they later died.
On Thursday morning, police identified the victims as Jaheim Lamarre of the 1700 block of 19th Street, and Zahquesz McFadden of the 1800 block of Moore Street.
Their deaths are mourned by family and friends. They also represent the rising gun violence trend in Philadephia. This year, homicides are up 32%.
A 17-year-old male and an 18-year-old male also suffered gunshot wounds. Both were transported to an area hospital by a private vehicle.
"Quite frankly it's rare, but I'm at a loss for words. The good news here is that we have a lot of video evidence and hopefully we can do everything we can to retrace this," said Outlaw.
Outlaw said she has been talking to young people in the community and that some have expressed a sense of hopelessness and despair.
"We've had some folks tell us that, 'We're going to do what we're going to do,'" she said. "They say jobs are one thing, but you got to give me jobs where I can take care of my family. That means we need more folks to step up and help teach these young folks a trade, a skill, a vocation. College isn't for everybody."
No arrests have been made, but police believe the suspect may have been wearing all black clothing with a black mask.
There have been 46 additional homicides since the last City Council Gun Violence Prevention hearing on August 11. On Thursday, City Council members held another in the wake of Wednesday night's shooting.
"I honestly feel like bad guys are winning. I just had a quadruple shooting in my district last night," said Councilman Kenyatta Johnson.
Outlaw noted how both victims and perpetrators seem to be getting younger.
"Even meeting with some community members today, the folks out here are getting younger and younger because the folks who are considered the mentors of the street are getting younger in age," said Outlaw.
"We're beginning to see our shooting victims are younger in age as well. At least one of the victims from last night, that was terrible scene by the way, but even when you look at the scene last night, one of the victims was young, but he had previous arrests as well," added Outlaw.
In terms of policing, stop and frisk is down, but the interception of guns is up. Although getting the flow of crime and guns under control proves to be challenging.
"We are running into more guns while we are stopping less people," said Deputy Commissioner Melvin Singleton.
As for prosecution, in Wednesday night's quadruple shooting specifically, District Attorney Larry Krasner said this about the shooter, "They did not just end the lives of two young people that day. If they are caught and I'm very hopeful they will be, they have in some ways ended their own lives because they will be prosecuted justly and very vigorously."
The Gun Violence Prevention Committee also focused on the trauma that is felt throughout the community after a shooting.
Outlaw says that officers are often the first faces community members see, and with a uniform comes a gun and a badge which sometimes acts as a barrier.
Anyone with any information is asked to call police at 215-686-TIPS.
