Two teenagers were killed in two separate shootings that occurred within a 30-minute span in Philadelphia Tuesday night.
The first shooting occurred at 7:29 p.m. on the 3900 block of Poplar Street, less than a mile from the Philadelphia Zoo. An 18-year-old man was shot multiple times throughout his body. He was taken to the hospital where he was later pronounced dead.
The second shooting occurred on the 2500 block of North Sydenham Street. A 15-year-old boy was shot in the head, neck, chest, torso and arm.
Police identified the teen as Kanye Pittman, of North Philadelphia.
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"We thought it was firecrackers and my husband said, 'No. They're gunshots,'" a neighbor, who did not want to be identified, told NBC10.
She told NBC10 she saw the boy bleeding on the sidewalk after the shooting.
"So we ran up and he was laying there and I see him still breathing," she said. "So I told my husband to call 911."
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The teen was taken to Temple University Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 8:13 p.m.
At least 32 bullet casings were found at the crime scene.
No arrests have been made in either shooting and no weapons have been recovered. Police say the gunman or gunmen left behind a laser sight gun attachment.
"We believe he may have been the intended target since he was hit so many times," Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small said.
Entering Tuesday, at least 206 homicides had been reported in Philadelphia so far this year, a 40% increase from 2020, which was one of the deadliest in Philadelphia's history.
"Don't say 'Black Lives Matter' if they don't matter," the neighbor said. "That's all I want to tell you all. I'm done with that."
There are additional resources for people or communities that have endured gun violence in Philadelphia. Further information can be found here.
