UPDATED: 12:46 p.m.
Acting Police Commissioner Christine Coulter said at least eight shots were fired slightly before 9 p.m.
"The fact that someone would either want something bad enough or want to protect something bad enough to open fire in a parking lot is absolutely frightening," Coulter said.
Police say two men who were shot several times went into Target, where a few Philly police officers already happened to be taking a report on an unrelated robbery.
The officers took the injured men — ages 31 and 24, respectively — to the hospital, where they’re in critical condition.
Because the shooting happened while the store was open, with people going in and out, Coulter said the outcome could have been much worse.
"The fact that there weren't more people who were injured, we're very, very fortunate," she added.
Police say they found 25-year-old Daykwan Carter shot to death inside an SUV, which had bags of weed in it. Police believe one person got away from the scene, but there is no indication yet of who that is.
There was also a Jeep that crashed in the lot, but police haven’t said who was behind the wheel.
The crime scene tape has been taken away, and the store is open as of Wednesday morning. Some Target customers, like Joshua, who declined to give his last name, are stunned and worried.
"A scary situation, and it's right in the middle of the heart of the city," he said. "A lot of people, a lot of kids — anybody’s just here shopping."
Police say they recovered two guns and drugs from the scene, and they hope store surveillance video points them in the right direction in this case.