IDs on two Phila. homicide victims, 7 weekend murders

Police this morning identified the cab driver found shot to death in his taxi during a bloody weekend that claimed seven lives in Philadelphia.

Benjamin Elder, 46, of the 800 block of East Allegheny Avenue, was found shot in the right side of his head while sitting in the driver's seat of a Germantown Cab Co. taxi at 9:26 a.m. yesterday, said Officer Christine O'Brien.

Police responding to a call found the taxi in a parking lot in the 1800 block of North 20th Street. Medics pronounced Elder dead at the scene.

As of the end of last night, there had been 95 homicides in the city compared to 116 for the same time last year, O'Brien said.

She also identified a homicide victim from Friday night.

Michael Shawn Johnson, 36, of the 500 block of Adams Avenue, was found shot multiple times in the rear of a location in the 4800 block fo Tackawanna Street around 8 p.m.. He was taken to Temple University Hospital and pronounced dead at 9:34 p.m.

Already identified as victims this weekend:

*Chon H. Kim, 62, of Edison, N.J.

*Terron Epps, 20, of Upper Darby.

*Timothy Haines, 24, of the 200 block of West Erie Avenue.

*James E. Corry, 19, of teh 2600 block of South Hobson Street.

*Anthony Stevenson, 32, West Clifford Street.

Police reported no arrests in any of the cases.

Contac staff writer Robert Moran at 215-854-5983 or bmoran@phillynews.com.