Woman shot in Kensington home, Philadelphia police say – NBC10 Philadelphia

A woman was shot dead by a ricochet bullet in her home after a shooting in Philadelphia’s Kensington neighborhood that stemmed from a dispute between teenagers, police said.

The ordeal began just before 1:15 p.m. on Friday, June 28, in the 3400 block of Tampa Street. Investigators said a group of teenage girls were fighting in the area. Then a white vehicle arrived at the scene and a gunman exited through the driver’s door, police said. As several people fled, the gunman shot at them, pursued the group and then fired another shot in the 600 block of E. Ontario Street, investigators said.

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A woman, later identified as 59-year-old Gladys Rivera-Perez, was sitting on the porch of her home at 3400 Crystal Street when she heard the gunshots. She then went into her home and was followed by the people fleeing the gunman, according to investigators.

The gunman then fired two shots into the house. One bullet struck Rivera-Perez in the back and exited through her chest and shoulder area as she tried to get to the second floor, police said. She was taken by private vehicle to St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children, where she was pronounced dead at 1:44 p.m. that same day.

Officers investigating the incident received information that the shooter’s vehicle was traced to an address in the 1300 block of St. Vincent Street. A barricade situation was declared and police found the owner of the vehicle inside the house. The owner was taken into custody by police for questioning but was later released pending further investigation.

Police described the suspect as a 39-year-old Hispanic man with a stocky build, long beard, red shirt and dark baseball cap.

If you have any information regarding the identity or whereabouts of the suspect, please call Philadelphia Police at 215-686-TIPS (8477).

As of Sunday evening, 130 murders had been reported in Philadelphia, 38 percent fewer than in the same period last year, police said.

Philadelphia police recently increased patrols in Kensington as part of the city’s plan to clean up the neighborhood. Just days after Phase 2 of the plan began, a Philadelphia police officer was shot during a traffic stop in Kensington and remains in critical condition.