Woman shot dead as she tried to break up a fight in Kensington

PHILADELPHIA (KYW News Radio) — Two people were killed in separate shootings in Kensington overnight. One victim was targeted, but the other was not. Police said they were simply trying to break up a fight.

The first incident occurred on Sunday around 11:30 p.m. at the corner of East Indiana Avenue and C Street. A man was riding a scooter when a silver car pulled up next to him.

“Individuals exited the vehicle and began firing multiple shots at the shooting victim, hitting him multiple times at close range,” said Police Inspector DF Pace.

The shooters escaped. The victim, who police said was in his twenties, died in hospital. The motive was initially unclear to police.

Police said the second shooting occurred about a half hour later and less than a mile away at the corner of Kensington Avenue and A Street. A group of men were arguing outside a store and the situation escalated and turned physical.

One of the men pulled out a gun, pointed it at another man and fired, Pace said. But instead of hitting the man, he hit a woman.

“She was obviously trying to mediate the dispute or end it in some way,” Pace said.

Police took the victim, believed to be in her thirties, to the hospital where she died.

Police said they had spoken to several suspects.

Authorities said at least part of both incidents were captured by real-time crime cameras and that the footage will be used in further investigations.