Columbia

2 Shot, 1 Dead in Execution-Style Killing Outside Overbrook Recreation Center Packed With Kids

A 42-year-old man is dead after being killed execution-style and an innocent bystander was hurt in a shooting outside an Overbrook recreation center packed with children and parents Friday evening, Philadelphia Police said.

Gunfire rang out just before 7 p.m. outside the Tustin Recreation Center at 60th Street and Columbia Avenue as two masked men ambushed the victim, police said.

He was shot once in the body and then in the head at close-range, detectives said. He died at the scene.

"It does appear the male was executed," Philadelphia Police Capt. Drew Techner told NBC10.

The other victim was hit in the thumb after bullets traveled into the nearby playground, according to investigators. That victim was taken to a nearby hospital.

The recreation center was packed with more than 100 children when the shooting happened. Techner said he's amazed no children were shot.

"Next thing you know, we hear gunshots, pop, pop, pop. Next thing you know, we're turning around, we have our kids out here, so we're frantic, we rush over, make sure the kids are alright," said parent Alex Nash, who witnessed the shooting.

Homicide detectives tracked down one suspect and arrested him along the 2600 block of Shields Street in Southwest Philadelphia a few hours later. A gun was recovered and his Infinity SUV was taken into evidence. The second suspect remains at large.

Investigators are reviewing surveillance recordings from the recreation center. A motive was not immediately known.

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