A woman was fatally shot in the early hours of Friday morning outside of a North Philadelphia church. The incident took place just before 1 a.m. in the 2000 block of West Lehigh Avenue, where police found a 29-year-old victim by a fence outside of the Deliverance Evangelistic Church with multiple gunshot wounds. According to 6abc, she was shot in the face and head and believed to be the intended target.
Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small, as reported by CBS News Philadelphia, informed that eight shell casings from a semi-automatic weapon were found near the woman's body. This detail indicates that the shots were fired at close range. At the time of the shooting, no arrests had been made, and no suspect description has been provided, although ongoing investigations are looking into camera footage from the area.
Officers who responded to the multiple 911 calls regarding the incident rushed the woman to Temple University Medical Center. Unfortunately, she was pronounced dead after arrival. While her identity has not been disclosed by officials, the rapid response by law enforcement reflects the gravity and urgency with which such violent acts are attended to. Despite these efforts, investigators are still piecing together the events that led to her tragic end
The police are hopeful that the crime cameras and other surveillance in the vicinity will help identify the assailant or assailants. With no clear motive or description of the shooter available yet, the authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward. A $20,000 reward is available for tips leading to an arrest and conviction, as reported by NBC Philadelphia, which also reflects the severity with which the Philadelphia Police Department is addressing this incident.
