Man fatally shot in head in Philadelphia mosque parking lot: police

PHILADELPHIA - A man is dead after police say a shooting occurred outside a mosque in North Philadelphia Tuesday. 

The shooting happened on the 1500 block of Germantown Avenue outside of Al-Aqsa Islamic Society at around 4: 55 p.m in North Philadelphia's Olde Kensington neighborhood. 

Police say a 43-year-old man was shot multiple times and transported to Temple University Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 5:13 p.m.

The victim has been identified by police as Raheem Jefferson.

There was a heavy police presence at the scene with officers blocking off a portion of the street. 

According to Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small, the victim got out of his car and began walking toward the mosque to attend service when a shooter ran up behind him and began firing. 

After the 43-year-old fell to the ground, Chief Inspector Small says the suspect stood over the victim and fired more shots. 

"You see the shooter run up behind the victim and just a few feet away begin firing shots…The shooter stands over the victim from a few feet away and continues firing shots" added Small.

Members gathered outside the Al-Aqsa Masjid were in shock as they watched crime scene technicians comb for evidence in the parking lot on the 1500 block of Germantown Avenue.

Police say surveillance video from the scene shows the shooter firing at least 17 shots from a high caliber semi-automatic weapon. 

Investigators say the video also shows the shooter taking off in a dark-colored sedan. The victim has not been identified.

"It came on my mind that someone is around maybe he’s going to shoot again" said Ashraf Abdelrazek.

Abdelrazek was inside the mosque praying when he heard the shots. Although he didn’t know the victim he says the shooting left members of the mosque rattled their sanctuary has been shattered by violence on their door step. 

"It could take a life like in one second.. it’s like there’s no need for fight," Abdelrazek said.

Police are also talking with another man who was with the victim who witnessed the shooting. 

No arrests have been made, and no weapons were recovered at the scene. 

Governor Josh Shapiro and Senator Bob Casey both expressed their thoughts and concerns about the incident in separate tweets Tuesday. 

"My office is tracking the shooting outside the Al-Aqsa Islamic Society in Philadelphia. Everyone should be able to practice their faith in a safe environment. I have reached out to local law enforcement to offer support and hope they can investigate this tragic death quickly," Sen. Casey tweeted.

This is an ongoing investigation. 

Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact the Philadelphia Police Department's Homicide Unit at 215-686-3334 or call/text the PPD's tipline at 215-686-TIPS. Tipsters can remain anonymous. As with all homicides in Philadelphia, there is a $20,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest and conviction. 

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