Gunman Kills Lyft Driver in Another Night of Violence in Philly

An investigation is underway after a Lyft driver was shot and killed in Philadelphia’s Nicetown neighborhood during another night of violence in the city.

Terrell Harris, 29, was inside a silver Toyota Camry on the 3500 block of North 21st Street around 7:33 p.m. Thursday when a gunman opened fire, police said.

Harris was shot once in the left hip and once in the left buttocks. He was later found slumped over in the driver's seat and his car had been shot at least 10 times by gunfire, police said.

Police also found 14 spent shell casings near the vehicle. They believe the victim was driving when he was shot.

The man was taken to Temple University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 8:07 p.m.

The shooting occurred nearly a month after a Lyft driver and an Uber driver were injured in two separate shootings in one night in Philadelphia.

It was also one of three homicides that occurred in the city Thursday night.

A second deadly shooting occurred along the 2800 block of North Orkney Street in North Philadelphia at 7:44 p.m. A 31-year-old man was shot multiple times in the chest while a 52-year-old man was shot once in the left leg and once in the buttocks.

Both men were taken to Temple University Hospital. The 31-year-old man was pronounced dead at 8:09 p.m. while the 52-year-old is in stable condition.

Finally, a man in his 20's was shot multiple times in the head on the 1300 block of Wakeling Street at 8:30 p.m. He was pronounced dead by a medic at 8:39 p.m.

No weapons were recovered and no arrests were made in any of the shootings.

Earlier on Thursday, four people were shot in a drive-by in West Philadelphia while Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf urged community-based violence prevention groups to apply for millions of dollars in grants in another part of the neighborhood.

As of Wednesday night, there had been 393 homicides in Philadelphia, up 17% from the same time last year, which was ultimately one of the deadliest in the city’s history.

City leaders are hoping more funds can help stem the violence. The new city budget allocates nearly $156 million on anti-violence measures, $22 million of which will go toward the Anti-Violence Community Expansion Grant Program. The program is designed to provide funds to organizations working toward reducing violent crime in the city.

There are additional resources for people or communities that have endured gun violence in Philadelphia. Further information can be found here.