Two teens have been charged with firearms possession and related charges after three people were killed and a fourth injured at a home in northeast Philadelphia, authorities said.
Lt. John Stafford told reporters that officers who responded to the residence in the Lawncrest neighborhood shortly after 3:30 p.m. Friday found one person shot on the sidewalk, another on the porch, and a third victim inside the house. All three people were pronounced dead at the scene.
Police said another victim, a 16-year-old boy, arrived by car at Jefferson Frankford Hospital. Stanford added that at least two people were taken into custody and a firearm was recovered from the vehicle.
Police reported Saturday that 17-year-old Malik Ballard was identified as the young man killed on the sidewalk; Khalif Frezghi, 18, was found dead on the porch, and Salah Fleming, 14, was found inside by the residence’s front door.
Two youths, ages 15 and 16, face charges of firearms possession and related offenses, and the investigation is ongoing, police said.
WPVI-TV reported that Philadelphia School District officials confirmed that at least two of the dead were high school students from the school district.
Two weeks ago, more than two dozen shots were fired during a gun confrontation at the Lawncrest Recreation Center, and one of the bullets went through a daycare window, WPVI-TV reported.
Stanford acknowledged frustration at the violence unfolding in the city, but said “we can’t lose hope, because if we lose hope, everyone in this city will lose hope.”
