Philadelphia homicide rate inches closer to 500 for 2020 after violent night leaves two dead

Dave Schratwieser reports on Philadelphia's surging homicide rate

PHILADELPHIA - Two shootings in two separate neighborhoods leave at least two people dead Tuesday morning.

The first shooting happened at 11:08 p.m. on the 5800 block of Rising Sun Avenue.

"It’s just sad. I feel bad about it. Just sorry and praying for them. Offer them condolences," remarked Tejan Jannah.

Jennah owns and runs a market with his wife just across the street from where 24-year-old Ebony Kitchen was shot multiple times in the head, at close range. Like many other homicides, police say, this stemmed from an argument with a woman and a man a few minutes earlier.

2 shootings leave 2 people dead in Philadelphia

Two separate shootings happened in North and Northeast Philadelphia.

"My sympathy and I feel sad cause I have daughters, too, and knowing that makes me feel sad. It breaks my heart," Jennah added.

Ebony Kitchen’s murder sent the city’s total number of homicides inching toward 500 for 2020, the highest number in thirty years and an increase of 40 percent over the homicides in 2019. It’s a fact not lost on shop owners and workers along the busy commercial area.

"I think something has to be done. Most of it I believe is gun violence," Jennah stated.

Sources say Kitchen’s murder was captured on police and local business surveillance cameras a few feet away.

The murder happened on a violent night marked by multiple shootings and murders that had investigators scrambling.

At approximately 1:24 a.m. on West York Street, a man who was visiting family was also shot and killed.

The 43-year-old male victim suffered 12 shots to the head and torso also at point blank range. A motive and a suspect are unknown at this time.

"It’s really bad for business because I don’t want people to have the idea that this area is not a good place to come and shop," Jennah commented.

"The one thing is have more police patrolling the area. It’s better if there’s a police officer out there," added a neighbor.

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Police id 18-year-old Southwest Philadelphia shooting victim, seek suspects

Man, 30, shot multiple times and killed in Strawberry Mansion

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Tips can be submitted by calling 215-686-TIPS (8477) or texting PPD TIP (773847). Tips can also be submitted anonymously online, here. All tips are confidential.

Click here to find resources for victims of violence in Philadelphia.

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