An investigation is underway after a woman was shot and killed in front of a boy inside a car in West Philadelphia late Friday night, police said.
According to the Philadelphia Police Department, on Friday, April 18, 2025, around 11:25 p.m., officers responded to the 5700 block of Ludlow Street after receiving reports of a person with a gun.
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WATCH HEREWhen police arrived, they found a 29-year-old woman on the street next to an open driver's side door of a red Hyundai Elantra. She was suffering from gunshot wounds to the head and chest.
The woman was taken to the hospital where she was pronounced dead at 11:48 p.m.
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SIGN UP On Monday, law enforcement officials identified the woman as Imani Naim, 29, of Delaware.
Police said an 8-year-old boy was inside the car at the time of the shooting. They have not confirmed the boy's relationship with Naim but said bullets -- which were fired at close range -- nearly struck the child during the shooting.
Naim Morris, who lives near the scene of the shooting, told NBC10 he's not sure if the victim lived in the area. He said he left about an hour before the incident.
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"When I came back, something told me it was off," Morris said. "It was quiet but I was seeing the caution tape and stuff. And I'm like, 'Why am I seeing them? This normally doesn't happen.' So I'm looking around. I'm looking around. Then I came over here and I just see blood. I'm like, 'Oh no. Something ain't right.'"
There are additional resources for people or communities that have endured gun violence in Philadelphia. Further information can be found here.
No arrests have been made and officials have not released information on any suspects. They said the shooter was wearing black clothing and a mask but did not release a detailed description beyond that.
The Philadelphia Police Department's Homicide Unit is investigating.
Anyone with information related to this crime is asked to come forward. You can contact the Philadelphia Police Department's Homicide Unit at 215-686-3334 or submit an anonymous tip by calling the Philadelphia Police Department's tipline at 215-686-TIPS (8477).
As with all homicides in the city of Philadelphia, a $20,000 reward is being offered for information that leads to an arrest or conviction.
Support for the community
After Friday's shooting, Quanajia Reed spoke with residents on Ludlow Street to check in on them. Just last year, Reed herself was the victim of gun violence.
"I was hit six times in my legs," Reed said. "It's a very unfortunate situation how it had to go."
She now works for the nonprofit Eddie's House and provides support for victims of gun violence.
"We are a community. So even though we don't know the people affected personally, we are all affected by it," Omar Muse, the program director of Eddie's House, told NBC10. "Unfortunately in a city like Philadelphia, a lot of people are affected by gun violence."
Reed is sharing her own story of survival to help other victims.
"You can teach people in your situation that you don't have to dwell on it," she said. "You don't have to stop moving. You can be motivated to do more. You can inspire others with your story."
As of April 19, there were 58 reported homicides in Philadelphia so far this year, down 29.27% from the same time last year which ultimately saw the lowest number of homicides in the city in a decade, according to police data.
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