PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Two more young lives were lost to gun violence on Sunday. Philadelphia police say a 16-year-old boy and a 21-year-old man are now among the more than 500 people who have been killed in the city this year.
Teen gunned down
Police say 16-year-old Kanye Davis, a Strawberry Mansion High School student, was shot eight times around 8 p.m. near Fourth and Diamond streets, in front of the Diamond Laundromat Chinese Food Take Out store in North Philadelphia.
He was shot in his side, back, legs and chest. He died at Temple University Hospital.
Detectives are searching for two shooters. Police say the two got away in a dark-colored SUV.
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“There are eight [fire cartridge casings] on the scene, and there are definitely two shooters,” said Chesley Lightsey, homicide supervisor for the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office. “The 16-year-old is absolutely the intended target,” though investigators don’t yet know why.
Friends describe the teen as a funny, kind kid who loved basketball.
Man shot in broad daylight
Hours prior to that killing and about 10 blocks away, 21-year-old Temple University student Sam Collington was shot and killed as he returned to campus from the holiday break. Collington also died at Temple University Hospital.
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The Collington family released a statement, saying he was “kind and accomplished — president of his class, an eagle scout, National Honor Society, band, an intern at city hall, among many other things.”
“Our son, brother, nephew, and cousin, Sam Collington was and is our hero, and this senseless act crushes us,” the family said. “Sam spent all of his free time raising awareness for the issues that meant the most to him. In his honor, we will do everything to make sure that there is #JusticeForSam.”
The family is planning a vigil for later this week.
According to Philadelphia police, Collington was walking down North Park Avenue around 1:30 p.m., when a man shot him in the chest, thigh and back, and killed him. Neighbors say the area, about four blocks away from campus, is home to many Temple students.
"It’s pretty clear this is going to be a robbery or attempted carjacking," said Philadelphia District Attorney's Office Homicide Supervisor Chelsey Lightsey.
"At some point, it looks like he tried to fight back but it appears it was after he’d been shot."
Police said forensic evidence has been recovered leading to a possible suspect. As of Monday night, they were still reviewing videos to piece together more of just what happened that day.
Collington's reach extended to City Hall, where he was a college fellow with the City Commissioners Office. Commissioner Omar Sabir said in a statement: "Samuel was an incredibly talented and engaged young man. During his brief time with our office, Samuel exemplified that incredible passion for engaging voters and was an indispensable member of our team."
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A spokesperson for Temple University added: "This is a tragedy in every sense of the word. Our thoughts are with the victim’s family, friends and the entire Temple community during this tremendously difficult time."
Police have not made any arrests in either case.
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