4 shot, 3 killed in North Philadelphia shooting at basketball court: police
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A third person has died after four people were shot at a playground in North Philadelphia Friday.
A 21-year-old man was pronounced dead around 9:50 p.m. Saturday, according to police.
The shooting happened just before 6 p.m. Friday outside the 8th and Diamond Rec Center.
"It wasn't no regular guns," one person said. "They had to be automatic or they had to be custom."
A basketball game turned into a shootout in North Philadelphia after police said multiple gunmen got out of a car and opened fire at the playground.
"Kids weren't on the court. The kids were on the other side of the fence playing in the street," Philadelphia Police Deputy Commissioner James Kelly said. "But some of those rounds hit houses across the street. So it's a tragic situation but no young children got hit."
The victims killed have been identified as 22-year-old Nyreese Moore, of North Philadelphia; 24-year-old Naasir Folk, of Olney and 21-year-old Ishiah Williams, of Lawncrest.
Investigators believe the men who were shot were targeted.
"It does seem like they had a specific group or person they were going out to shoot," Kelly said.
Police said they've recovered at least 50 shell casings and that detectives are running through video from cameras in the area. Despite Friday's shooting, police said they intend to keep the playground and rec center open.
"Put an end to any possible retaliation that could result from this because that's always our biggest concern if it is one group against another group that's what we have to be concerned with," Kelly said. "But we'll have uniform presence out here around the clock moving forward."
It was a frightening scene for neighbors in the area.
One man, who didn't want to appear on camera, said the city needs to step up to end the violence.
"Cause if they don't, then the neighbors and people gonna take it out on they own by patrolling the streets," one person said.
Police said they are currently looking for four or five shooters in this case, however, they did not release descriptions of any of the suspects.
EDITORIAL NOTE: A previous version of this story said three people were killed and two others were wounded. It has since been updated to reflect four victims.