Man fatally shot during fight in Southwest Philadelphia marks city's 99th homicide
In a statement Thursday, Mayor Jim Kenney says it pains him to the core that the city has lost almost 100 souls
PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- After a record number of homicides last year, Philadelphia police say the violence hasn't let up.
There have been nearly 100 murders already this year.
On Wednesday night, a 62-year-old man was shot and killed during a fight inside a Southwest Philadelphia home.
Police said the shooting happened shortly after 11:30 p.m. on the 4800 block of Springfield Avenue.
Arriving officers went to the second-floor apartment and found a 62-year-old man lying on the bedroom floor.
Police said the man had been shot in his neck and was unresponsive. The victim was pronounced dead at the hospital.
The alleged shooter and the victim were friends, but it's unclear what transpired, police said.
"We know that these two individuals know each other. We know there was some sort of physical altercation that took place in the front bedroom that led to this shooting," said Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small.
The 26-year-old shooter remained on the scene and was cooperating with investigators.
A gun and a single spent shell casing were recovered from the scene, police said.
This deadly shooting marks the 99th homicide in Philadelphia so far this year.
According to the Action News data journalism team, the homicide rate is now up 8% from last year, which in itself broke a somber record.
The latest figures show Philadelphia has more homicides than New York City and Los Angeles, and the city is just one homicide behind Chicago, which has long led the nation in homicides.
In a statement Thursday, Mayor Jim Kenney says it pains him to the core that the city has lost almost 100 souls.
He says in addition to what the city is already doing, he pledges to double his efforts, expanding the Group Violence Intervention initiative and Community Crisis Intervention program and other key anti-violence efforts that are now underway.
