Man killed in North Philadelphia "execution style" shooting in mosque parking lot, police say
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A 43-year-old man was shot multiple times and killed "execution style" in the parking lot of a North Philly mosque on Tuesday, Chief Inspector Scott Small of the Philadelphia Police Department said.
The shooting happened on the 1500 block of Germantown Avenue in the parking lot of the Al-Aqsa Islamic Society at about 5 p.m.
Police said the 43-year-old man was shot multiple times, including at least one time in the head, and pronounced dead at Temple University Hospital at 5:13 p.m., Small said.
At least 17 shots were fired from a large caliber semi-automatic weapon, according to Small.
Small said surveillance videos in the area show the 43-year-old man walking up to the mosque with another man before the shooting.
The alleged shooter, who was in dark clothing, then runs up behind the 43-year-old man and started firing shots, Small said. After striking the 43-year-old man multiple times, Small said the gunman stood over the man and continued to shoot him. The other man the 43-year-old was with wasn't hurt by the gunfire, Small said.
Small said the shooter fled the scene in a dark colored sedan that possibly has a replacement tire or donut tire on the front passenger side.
Small said the motive is unclear, but the 43-year-old man appears to have been targeted by the shooter.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro posted on X, formerly Twitter, about the shooting on Tuesday night.
"Violence outside of a house of worship is deeply painful and traumatizing for those simply showing up to worship and practice their faith," Shapiro wrote. "As an investigation into this killing proceeds, I'm praying for Philadelphia's Al-Aqsa Islamic Society community, a place I've been several times, and hoping they find peace in each other and in their faith."
