It was a violent first weekend of summer in Philadelphia with at least a dozen people shot throughout the city.
Three people were shot and killed while another was fatally stabbed in just a matter of hours late Saturday into Sunday morning.
One of the killings was at a block party that turned deadly Sunday in when a shootout occurred along the 3200 block of Spangler Street in East Falls. Eric Johnson, 31, of North 29th Street, was shot in the head and died at the scene. Three other people were wounded at that scene. They're expected to be OK. Neighbors are wondering what can be done to end the violence.
Police are investigating. Neighbors say the shooting may have been over a girl.
This is the second time in a week a block party has turned violent. A 2-year-old was shot during a Father's Day celebration last week.
Police are also looking for two men in connection with a shooting at a basketball court that happened Sunday at Kemble Park near Ogontz and West Olney avenues. Four people were struck by bullets in the legs there and are hospitalized in stable condition.
A police officer patrolling near 40th and Market streets shortly after 1 a.m. Sunday heard gunshots to the west, investigated and saw a gunshot victim running from North Preston Street collapse in front of his cruiser. Jarrel Teague, 25, of Mount Vernon Street, was pronounced dead at a hospital two hours later.
Police are still looking for the person who stabbed a bartender to death inside T-Barr's Bar at Eighth and Jackson streets in South Philadelphia early Sunday morning. Investigators believe the motive behind the murder could have been robbery. The owner of the bar is offering a $1,000 reward to help catch the killer.
And police called to investigate gunfire Saturday night on the 600 block of North 38th Street later learned of a 26-year-old who had been driven to Presbyterian Hospital by private car and died there.
According to our tally, there have been 178 people killed in Philadelphia so far this year. That's about 30 more than this time last year.
As of early Monday morning, zero arrests had been reported in the killings over the weekend.
FOX 29's Steve Keeley is reporting live from police headquarters all Monday morning with more on the escalating gun violence.
Friday, May 17 2013 7:21 AM EDT2013-05-17 11:21:46 GMT
He became an Internet celebrity for his interview after stopping a murder. But now it appears the tables have turned for "Kai the Hatchet-Wielding Hitchhiker."
He became an Internet celebrity for his interview after stopping a murder. But now it appears the tables have turned for "Kai the Hatchet-Wielding Hitchhiker."
Thursday, May 16 2013 8:39 AM EDT2013-05-16 12:39:06 GMT
Investigators say a police-involved shooting occurred early Thursday morning after someone broke into an off-duty officer's shed outside a home in Northeast Philadelphia.
Investigators say a police-involved shooting occurred early Thursday morning after someone broke into an off-duty officer's shed outside a home in Northeast Philadelphia.
Wednesday, May 15 2013 2:57 PM EDT2013-05-15 18:57:53 GMT
Philadelphia abortion doctor Kermit Gosnell has been sentenced to a third life term for killing an aborted baby that he described as so big it could "walk to the bus."
Philadelphia abortion doctor Kermit Gosnell has been sentenced to a third life term for killing an aborted baby that he described as so big it could "walk to the bus."
Tuesday, May 14 2013 1:18 PM EDT2013-05-14 17:18:57 GMT
Authorities now say an early-morning shooting in Burlington County involved a police officer and a man he found in the street, both of whom were wounded.
Authorities now say an early-morning shooting in Burlington County involved a police officer and a man he found in the street, both of whom were wounded.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 7:59 PM EDT2013-05-21 23:59:26 GMT
A man was critically injured Tuesday in New Castle by an explosion that happened while he opened an antique army ammunition box he picked up from his neighbors trash.
A man was critically injured Tuesday in New Castle by an explosion that happened while he opened an antique army ammunition box he picked up from his neighbors trash.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 7:37 PM EDT2013-05-21 23:37:43 GMT
Helmeted rescue workers race to complete the search for survivors and the dead in the Oklahoma City suburb where a mammoth tornado destroyed countless homes, cleared lots down to bare red earth and claimed 24 lives.
Helmeted rescue workers race to complete the search for survivors and the dead in the Oklahoma City suburb where a mammoth tornado destroyed countless homes, cleared lots down to bare red earth and claimed 24 lives.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 6:01 PM EDT2013-05-21 22:01:25 GMT
Police sources say the two incidents now under investigation took place at Houston Hall, a student center and lecture hall, on Spruce Street in the heart of the University of Pennsylvania campus.
Police sources say the two incidents now under investigation took place at Houston Hall, a student center and lecture hall, on Spruce Street in the heart of the University of Pennsylvania campus.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 3:02 PM EDT2013-05-21 19:02:17 GMT
The death penalty could be the eventual reality for the drug kingpin convicted of killing 12 people. Kaboni Savage's sentencing hearings began Tuesday. While prosecutors claim that a prison isn't going
Sentencing hearings began Tuesday for drug kingpin Kaboni Savage.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 1:43 PM EDT2013-05-21 17:43:01 GMT
The Lehigh County District Attorney's office has charged a couple with conspiring to embezzle $854,497 from the utility account of the South Whitehall Finance Department between 1999 and 2012.Nancy Tonkin,
The Lehigh County District Attorney's office has charged a couple with conspiring to embezzle $854,497 from the utility account of the South Whitehall Finance Department between 1999 and 2012.Nancy Tonkin,
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