A night of violence has gripped Philadelphia, with one man killed and seven others wounded in a series of shootings across the city, according to police. The incidents occurred as authorities were also investigating the grim discovery of a man's body stuffed inside a suitcase found in an alleyway on Friday morning.
Suitcase discovery in Kensington
The suitcase was found on the 600 block of East Hilton Street in Kensington after a neighbor noticed it and alerted police. Officers responded around 9:25 a.m. to a report of a suspicious suitcase in an alley and discovered an unidentified man deceased inside the luggage.
Neighbor Angela Alexander told WPVI she first saw the gray suitcase in the alley the previous night while returning from work. "I'm like I don't know what it is but it's a little scary that it's like that," Alexander said. She noted the suitcase remained in the alley as she entered her home through the back entrance. "I told my husband I hope there ain't no body in there," she recalled. "He said don't worry about that, don't touch it."
Alexander added that the alley is frequently used for drug activity and said the discovery has left her shaken. "I don't know what to do. I'm ready to move now," she said. Police have not released the man's identity or cause of death, and the investigation is ongoing.
Series of shootings
Following the suitcase discovery, a string of shootings erupted across the city. The deadliest incident occurred around 2:40 a.m. Saturday on the 5100 block of Bible Way in the Parkside neighborhood. Three men were shot during the incident. One victim suffered gunshot wounds to the chest and arms and was pronounced dead. Another man was shot in the arm, while a third was struck in the head. Authorities have not released the deceased man's identity, and no arrests have been announced.
Earlier in the night, another triple shooting broke out around 1:30 a.m. on North 11th Street in North Philadelphia. Police reported one man hospitalized in critical condition, while two women were listed in stable condition.
Just hours before that, a man in his 30s and a 15-year-old boy were wounded in a drive-by shooting near Ditman and Sanger Streets in the Wissinoming neighborhood. Investigators said the victims were standing outside around 11:10 p.m. Friday when between five and 10 shots were fired. A nearby pickup truck was also struck several times. Both victims were hospitalized in stable condition.
No arrests have been made in any of the shootings, and investigators have not released possible motives. The Daily Mail has reached out to the Philadelphia Police Department for comment.
