A 24-year-old man was shot and killed Tuesday evening on the sidewalk beside St. James School in North Philadelphia, turning a familiar neighborhood corner into a crime scene. The gunfire erupted around 8:30 p.m. near 32nd and Clearfield streets. The victim was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 8:45 p.m. Officers remained at the scene late into the night as detectives worked the block for clues.
Police say surveillance captured suspect
Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small told reporters that the city’s real-time crime cameras recorded a man dressed entirely in black walking up to the victim shortly before the shooting. Investigators believe only a single shot may have been fired. Small said officers found blood on the sidewalk but no shell casings and no firearm, and detectives searched through bushes and grass around the school for additional evidence. These details were shared with reporters, according to NBC10.
Police ask community to come forward
The Philadelphia Police Department said it is still trying to track down the person seen on camera and urged anyone who knows something to speak up. Tips can be called in to 215-686-TIPS (8477) or submitted through the department’s online tool, which allows people to remain anonymous. The submit-a-tip page outlines how residents can share video or eyewitness accounts and provides instructions for anonymous reporting, per the Philadelphia Police Department. No arrests have been announced.
Recent school-area shootings in the city
This killing is the latest high-profile shooting near a school building in Philadelphia this month. On June 3, a 16-year-old was shot near the Fitler School, according to CBS Philadelphia. Just days before that, a pizza delivery driver was killed in a separate North Philadelphia shooting, as reported by The Philadelphia Inquirer. Taken together, the incidents have renewed calls for stronger protections around school zones and more aggressive street-level evidence gathering.
Resources for the community
Local organizations and newsrooms maintain resource lists for people affected by gun violence, including support services and contacts for those looking for help. Resolve Philly, for example, compiles links and phone numbers for a range of assistance programs. Investigators said they will review any video or tips that come in as they work to identify the suspect in Tuesday’s shooting. For community resources, see Resolve Philly.
