Two gunmen walked up to a parked car in West Philadelphia and killed a man and a woman Thursday evening, police said.
Police Chief Scott Small said two gunmen opened fire on a parked SUV on the 700 block of Union Street in the Mantua section of the city around 10 p.m.
“It appeared the gunmen approached the vehicles on both sides and fired multiple shots,” Small said.
Police reviewed surveillance video that showed two men shooting at a white Cadillac SUV at close range.
Investigators believe 18 shots were fired, 10 of which went through the passenger side window, killing the two victims.
“There was a 51-year-old man in the driver’s seat and a 28-year-old woman in the passenger seat,” Small said. “They were both shot multiple times. They were unresponsive when medics arrived.”
The two were pronounced dead at the scene at 10:10 p.m
The double homicide comes after a similar fatal shooting days earlier on Christmas Eve, a few blocks away.
Tuesday, police responded to the 3800 block of Brown Street, killing a woman and leaving the man in critical condition. The two were also shot in a car when a gunman opened fire.
Police are offering a $20,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of a person involved in Tuesday’s shooting.
Police have not yet confirmed whether the two shootings are related, but are investigating.
Meanwhile, Small says surveillance from Union Street will be critical in identifying the shooters.
“Two males are seen fleeing eastbound through the same vacant lot,” Small said.
They are asking anyone with information about the shooting to call police or leave an anonymous tip at 215-686-TIPS (8477).
Wakisha Bailey
