Two killed in New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day shootings in Philadelphia

Two men were killed in Philadelphia overnight, with one fatal shooting occurring in the final hours of 2024 and another just minutes into the New Year.

Philadelphia police said that around 8:15 p.m. Tuesday, officers in the 14th District responded to reports of a “person with a gun” on the 5500 block of Germantown Avenue in Germantown. When they arrived, they found a man with a gunshot wound to the chest and multiple self-inflicted stab wounds. The victim was taken to Jefferson Einstein Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 8:25 p.m.

Police said an armed security guard at the banquet hall on the block told investigators he shot the man in self-defense after the victim approached him with a knife. No arrests had been made as of late Wednesday afternoon. The incident remains under investigation by the police homicide unit.

Officer Tanya Little encouraged anyone with information about the shooting to contact the homicide unit at 215-686-3334 or provide tips anonymously through the PPD tip line at 215-686-TIPS (8477).

A second fatal shooting occurred minutes into the New Year. Police said they responded to reports of gunfire at 12:04 a.m. Wednesday on the 6000 block of Chester Avenue in Southwest Philadelphia’s 12th District. Officers found a man, identified only as John Doe, in his early 30s with two gunshot wounds to the left shoulder and one each to the left and right groin.

The man was taken to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 12:18 a.m. No motive has been identified, no weapons were recovered and no arrests have been made.

In a separate incident, a man was injured in a shooting around 3:21 a.m. Wednesday on the 300 block of East Rockland Street in the 25th District. The 47-year-old victim was shot once in the right foot and taken to Temple University Hospital, where he was listed in stable condition. Police said no arrests had been made and no motive had been determined.

Anyone with information about this shooting is encouraged to contact the Shooting Investigations Group at 215-686-8270 or provide tips anonymously at 215-686-TIPS (8477). All tips are confidential.

Additionally, a barricade situation unfolded at 12:10 a.m. Wednesday in the 1700 block of 67th Avenue near Mount Moriah Cemetery in Southwest Philadelphia’s 35th District. Police in the area saw three men firing guns into the air before they fled into a property while armed.

The barricade was declared at 12:14 a.m., and SWAT cleared the property. Three men were arrested, and no injuries were reported. The Northwest Detective Division is investigating, and updates will be provided as they become available.