A 7-year-old struck by gunfire while playing video games, among 21 victims in weekend gun violence

The humid August weekend was punctuated by gun violence, as 21 people were shot, including one child, on Saturday and Sunday around the Philadelphia region.

A 7-year-old boy was hit in the thigh by crossfire while playing video games Saturday night inside his home.

The other victims ranged in age from 16 to 59, including a 34-year-old man who died of his wounds on the 2600 block of West Berks Street, shortly before 3 a.m. Sunday.

The 7-year-old boy was in his bedroom on the 200 block of Collom Street, in East Germantown, when a stray bullet struck his upper right thigh, police said. Officers responded at 9:41 p.m. and took the boy and his mother to Einstein Medical Center Philadelphia, where the child was listed in stable condition. The shooter, who fired from outside the home, was not seen by anyone inside, police said.

In the West Berks shooting, the victim was struck once in the neck while inside a vehicle, police said. No arrest was made at the time of the report.

Two people, a 40-year-old man and 26-year-old woman, were shot while sitting in a black Ford Explorer while parked on the curb near Ninth and Wingohocking Streets. Two shooters got out of a white Nissan sedan and opened fire on the Explorer, which was carrying towing equipment. Police came to the area and found more than 24 spent shell casings from a handgun and a rifle.

Police officers were in a nearby park providing security to festivals nearby, “but the music was so loud they didn’t hear gunshots,” said Inspector D.F. Pace in an interview.

“It appears this was a drive-by shooting, and shot at least 24 rounds into the vehicle,” he said.

The female passenger, who remains unidentified, was pronounced dead at Temple University Hospital later in the evening. The male remains in critical condition at Temple, but was able to give investigators some information.

“We’re hoping security cameras captured the vehicle fleeing,” Pace said.

On the 3600 block of North Sydenham Street, a 40-year-old man was shot four times, twice in the left arm and twice in the chest at 5:16 p.m. He was taken by private car to Temple University Hospital and was in stable condition.

Among others was a double shooting in the 5400 block of Walker Street, soon after midnight Sunday. A 24-year-old man was hit in the chest and stomach, and a 25-year-old woman was grazed in the chest and forehead. Both were taken by private vehicle to Jefferson Frankford Hospital, where he was listed in critical condition and she in stable condition. Police made an arrest but did not provide additional details.

On Sunday at 12:21 am, police responded to a radio call to the 2500 block of Belford Street Officers found an unresponsive male, age unknown, lying on the basement floor suffering from a gunshot wound to the head. He was pronounced dead at 12:43 a.m.

Minutes later, at 12:36 am, police responded to the 6100 block of Torresdale Avenue and found another shooting victim, a 23-year-old man, suffering from gunshots to the back. The victim was taken to Jefferson-Torresdale hospital in critical condition. Police had no arrests or motive.

Soon after 1 a.m., a 59-year-old man was shot in the buttocks and left thigh in the 2900 block of North Fairhill Street. He was listed in critical condition at Temple University Hospital.

Then, shortly before 3:30 a.m. Sunday, a 43-year-old man was shot in the back and a 16-year-old boy was shot in the right arm and right thigh in the 7200 block of Glenloch Street, police said. A city ambulance took the older victim to Jefferson Torresdale Hospital, where he was listed in critical condition, while the teenager was taken to St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children and listed in stable condition.

Finally at 8:18 a.m., a 21-year-old man was shot in the right thigh and taken by ambulance to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, where he was listed in stable condition.

Sunday’s violence was preceded by more than half a dozen shootings on Saturday.

At 9:49 p.m., a 19-year-old man was shot on the 3000 block of Mifflin Street. He was shot on the right side of his chest, and was taken to Presbyterian Hospital, where he was listed in stable condition.

At 6:55 p.m., an 18-year-old man living at the 4900 block of North Lawrence Street was taken to Albert Einstein Hospital with a gunshot wound to his right thumb.

At 3:50 p.m. on Saturday, a 31-year-old man was shot twice in his lower abdomen and was taken to Temple Hospital. At the same location, a 32-year-old man was shot once in his right calf and taken to the same hospital. They were both listed in stable condition.

Saturday morning at 9:25 a.m., police said, a 49-year-old male was shot on the 4200 block of Frankford Avenue. He was shot once in the ankle while walking to a store. The man was taken to Jefferson Hospital and was in stable condition.

At 5:36 a.m., a 52-year-old man was shot twice in the abdomen on the 100 block of North 10th Street. He was also taken to Jefferson Hospital and was in critical condition.

The violence continued just after midnight Saturday, with a double shooting inside a nightclub on the 900 block of Cherry Street. A 23-year-old woman there was shot once in each thigh, and a 28-year-old man was shot once in the thigh. Both were taken by medics to Jefferson Hospital and were in stable condition. A gun was recovered, but no arrests were made.