1 dead, 2 hurt in shooting on Ridge Avenue in North Philly: police
Deadly triple shooting on Ridge Avenue in North Philly: What we know
Philadelphia police are investigating a deadly triple shooting in North Philadelphia that left a 78-year-old man dead, and two other men injured Tuesday afternoon.
PHILADELPHIA - A triple shooting investigation is underway in North Philadelphia Tuesday evening.
What we know:
A triple shooting broke out around 4:49 p.m. Tuesday, August 18, on the highway in the 2200 block of Ridge Avenue, according to police.
Three men were struck by gunfire and taken by police to Temple University Hospital. A 78-year-old was pronounced dead at about 5:15 p.m, the other two men are in stable condition.
Police say at least four suspects got out of a silver SUV and opened fire in broad daylight before getting back into the vehicle and fleeing south on Ridge Avenue.
Investigators found more than 50 shell casings at the scene, with evidence markers stretching along the busy street.
Investigators believe a 31-year-old man who was shot four to five times may have been the intended target. He was shot outside the Dollar Way, which was also struck by gunfire.
Police have not identified a motive and have not said why investigators believe the 31-year-old may have been targeted.
What you can do:
Police urge anyone with information to contact the Homicide Unit at 215-686-3334/3335 or anonymously at 215-686-TIPS.
What they're saying:
A witness described the chaos as gunfire erupted during the evening rush.
"Right when the gunshots rang out, everybody was just fleeing the area," witness Billy Walker said. "We don’t know what’s going on down here. We’re just trying to make sure all the kids and the babies are at least out of the way."
Police say the entire shooting was captured on video.
Investigators are reviewing footage from real-time crime cameras, as well as surveillance video from several businesses along the block.
"We’re pretty confident these different cameras recorded different angles that will help us with this triple shooting investigation," Philadelphia Police Inspector Small said.
What we don't know:
Investigators have not shared details about the victims' identities or what led up to the shooting. The motive remains unknown and no one is in custody.
The Source: The above information is based on preliminary details released by police on Tuesday, August 18, 2026.