Kingsessing Philadelphia shooting claims 4 lives, injures 2 children

In yet another mass shooting, an armed suspect went on a killing spree in Philadelphia’s Kingsessing neighbourhood Monday and shot dead at least four people and injured two children, pinned him to the ground and placed him in handcuffs, media reported.

The Kingsessing shooter was wearing a bulletproof vest, with Police also detaining another person who picked up a gun and returned fire, Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle M Outlaw said.

The motive of the latest mass shooting is yet unknown which left several vehicles damaged with officers chasing the first suspect even as he was firing, according to Outlaw.

“We have absolutely no idea why this happened. … But thank God our officers were here on the scene and responded as quickly as they did,” Outlaw said.

The identities of the victims were not immediately made public however, it was said that the ages of the three deceased ranged from 20 to 59.

The injured children age four and thirteen were in stable condition, said Outlaw.

Police has earlier stated that eight people had been injured in the Kingsessing mass shooting.

Data from Gun Violence Archive showed at least 340 mass shootings have happened in the US so far this year.

"Officers became aware of Monday’s shooting around 8:30pm when they were flagged down at an intersection and found some gunshot victims," Outlaw said.

"As they were scooping up victims and preparing them for transport to the hospital, they also heard multiple gunshots up the street,” Outlaw said.

“At some point, they locate the suspect, and they were able to pursue this male who was on foot. The officers were on foot as well, and they followed or pursued this male,” she said.

Officers eventually apprehended that suspect in an alley.

“When they did, this male was wearing a bulletproof vest with multiple magazines in the vest. He also had a scanner and an AR-style rifle and a handgun underneath his body,” Outlaw said.

“About 50 spent shell casings littered the shooting scenes,” she said.

“At this point, we don’t see a connection to any of the victims and the shooter,” Outlaw said.

“We’re canvassing the area to get as much as we can to identify witnesses, to identify where cameras are located, and do everything that we can to figure out the ‘why’ behind this happening,” Outlaw said.