Police say arrests have been made in two separate murder cases in Kensington – NBC10 Philadelphia

Philadelphia police announced arrests in connection with two separate murders in the city’s Kensington neighborhood.

The first murder occurred just after 3:30 a.m. on Friday, July 12. Police responded to a reported shooting in the 3100 block of Kensington Avenue. When they arrived, they found Jean Ortiz-Collazo with a gunshot wound to the neck.

Ortiz-Collazo was hospitalized in critical condition. He died from his injuries more than a week later, on July 23.

Police later identified 44-year-old Shawyne Burnett as a suspect in Ortiz-Collazo’s murder. Burnett was arrested on July 24 and charged with murder, conspiracy and robbery.

The second murder occurred on Friday, July 26. Police responded to a reported shooting in the 3800 block of Kensington Avenue just before 6 a.m. When they arrived, they found Diamond Brown suffering from gunshot wounds. She was taken to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead at 6:50 a.m.

Investigators later identified 61-year-old Leroy Robinson as a suspect in Brown’s murder. Robinson turned himself in to police on July 28. He is charged with murder, violation of the Uniform Weapons Act, prohibition of possession of weapons, receiving stolen goods and tampering with evidence.

Online court records currently do not contain any information about legal representation for the two suspects.

While both suspects are in custody, police continue to investigate both murders. If you have any information about either case, please call the Homicide Unit at 215-686-3334. You can also submit an anonymous tip by calling or texting 215-686-TIPS (8477) or visiting the Philadelphia Police Department website.

As of Monday evening, 153 murders had been reported in Philadelphia so far in 2024, 38 percent fewer than in the same period last year and the lowest number since 2015, police data showed.