PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Authorities have charged two men in connection with a shooting on a South Philly street filled with dog walkers and families. One woman was struck and a dog was killed.
According to officials, Salvatore Branco and Rhett Mazza were shooting at each other on July 25 around 5 p.m. along Porter Street near 13th Street in the city’s Moyamensing neighborhood.
“A block and a half away, a 72-year-old woman who heard the shots went to her door and immediately felt she was struck in the abdomen through no fault of her own,” said Philadelphia Police Capt. Jim Kearney, who also said there was a casualty in the shooting
“As a result of this shootout, a family pet was killed. [It was] shot in the head and died in the arms of its owner,” he added.
Police say nearly 20 rounds were fired between the men. Kearney says witnesses, surveillance video and tips led them to their suspects.
“That night, Mr. Branco turned himself in to the Shooting Investigation Group and, by July 31, we had a warrant, and the second offender, Mazza, was arrested,” said Kearney.
Both suspects face aggravated and simple assault charges, along with gun offenses. Additionally, Branco was under investigation for the straw purchase of nearly a dozen firearms, after three he bought popped up in criminal cases throughout the city — including a homicide. He now faces dozens of gun and straw purchase charges.
“Mr. Branco never reported any of these firearms stolen, and many of the firearms he purchased were the same makes and models,” said prosecutor Kevin Betancur. “He was purchasing those firearms and selling them out on the street.”
Betancur says eight of Branco’s firearms are still out on the street.
Editor’s update, April 28, 2025:
Mazza pleaded guilty in a negotiated deal with prosecutors to aggravated assault and gun charges. The other dozen charges against him were dropped. He was sentenced to five to 10 years in prison with six years of probation.
Braco pleaded guilty in February to an aggravated assault charge. He was sentenced in late April to 11 ½ to 23 months in prison with additional years of probation.