Tragic Memorial Day shooting in Philadelphia: three dead

Philadelphia's long holiday weekend was overshadowed by an explosion of violence, culminating with three fatal shootings occurring in less than an hour.

The victims were Tonya Shelton, 55, Devan Harris, 34, and Anthony Turner, 23.

Key takeaways:

• Three fatal shootings occurred within an hour over Memorial Day weekend in Philadelphia.
• The victims were identified as Tonya Shelton, 55, Devan Harris, 34, and Anthony Turner, 23.
• Families and friends of the victims shared their grief and memories, highlighting the impact of gun violence on the community.

Tragedy hour in Philadelphia: three deadly shootings

Philadelphia detectives were called to three separate, back-to-back deadly shootings Sunday night, marking one of the city's most violent Memorial Day weekends.

Each incident has left a community in shock and families broken.

First shoot: Devan Harris, Feltonville section

The violence began in Philadelphia's Feltonville neighborhood shortly before 10:30 p.m. Sunday evening.

Gunshots rang out on Rorer Street near Bingham as several shooters opened fire on the crowd. Police believe the group up the block returned fire.

When officers arrived, they found Devan Harris, 34, shot multiple times in the head. He was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Harris was devoted to his family, including a young daughter. His friend, Chris Sanders, spoke about how Harris was like a brother to him.

“You cannot break this bond. He will always be our brother. Always, forever. It's just sad that such stupid things always happen to innocent people,” Sanders said.

He believes Harris was not the intended target, highlighting the senseless nature of the tragedy.

Investigators recovered more than 30 shell casings at the scene, including rifle and handgun shells. This evidence highlights the chaotic and violent nature of the incident.

Second filming: Anthony Turner, Strawberry Mansion

About 30 minutes after the first shooting, another deadly incident occurred in the Strawberry Mansion neighborhood of the city.

Shortly before 11 p.m., officers were called to the corner of Cumberland and Stanley streets. A 23-year-old man, later identified as Anthony Turner, was shot and killed.

He was taken to hospital in a private vehicle, but was quickly pronounced dead.

Turner was a young man with a promising future. Angelo Booker of Philadelphia Ceasefire was out in the community, working to end the violence.

“I was just watching a basketball game, and I heard a barrage of gunshots,” Booker said.

He stressed the importance of community presence to encourage witnesses to come forward. More than 20 shell casings were recovered from the scene, indicating a significant exchange of gunfire. The motive for the shooting remains unclear.

Third shoot: Tonya Shelton, North Philadelphia

The latest shooting happened around 11:15 p.m. in North Philadelphia.

Police responded to a call in the 2900 block of West Wishart Street, where they found Tonya Shelton, 55, shot in the head.

She was pronounced dead a few minutes later at the hospital.

Tonya Shelton had lived in the neighborhood since the 1970s and was known as a social butterfly. Her daughter, Sara Jackson, shared their last conversation about her upcoming high school graduation.

“She was just very compassionate,“Jackson said.”I wish they wouldn't take my mother the same way they took my mother.”

Jackson mentioned an argument earlier in the day outside his mother's house. A group returned later, leading to the tragic shooting.

Police are still investigating the motive and have not made any arrests.

Philadelphia faces Memorial Day violence

The tragic loss of life over Memorial Day weekend has left the Philadelphia community grieving. Victims' families and friends are left grappling with their grief and the senseless nature of the violence.

As investigations continue, the community is calling for justice and an end to the cycle of violence that has cost so many lives.

Victims' testimonies highlight the human cost of gun violence and the urgent need for solutions to prevent such tragedies in the future.

No arrests have been made in these cases, and police continue to seek information from the public to help bring the perpetrators to justice.

The community remains hopeful that by sharing their stories and uniting together, they can prevent further loss of life and create a safer environment for all.