PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A 15-year-old boy is the latest victim of the city’s gun violence crisis. Police say three masked gunmen chased him through an Oxford Circle apartment complex before shooting him 10 times, killing him, in the middle of the school day on Monday.
According to the School District of Philadelphia, the victim was a student at Kensington High School. Investigators say the shooting may be connected to a lockdown at nearby Samuel Fels High School earlier in the day. Deputy Commissioner Frank Vanore said there was some kind of disturbance at Fels involving unauthorized people trying to enter the building.
“I believe the school was locked down and they were put out,” Vanore said. “I don’t know if that incident has anything to do with this shooting, so we are all working with that. It’s part of our investigation.”
Vanore said surveillance video shows three people chasing the 15-year-old victim down Algon Avenue, and through the Oxford Village Apartments, around noon. The shots that killed the boy are visible at the tail end of the video, Vanore said.
On the 6100 block of Algon Avenue, the boy was shot five times in the torso and five times in his leg, according to police. Crime scene investigators said about 20 shots were fired by three different guns.
He was rushed to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead a short time later.
The teen was later identified as Neko Rivera.
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Vanore said the three gunmen wore dark-colored clothing and masks. “We do have some images to work with, to see if we can get them enhanced, to see if we can get who is responsible.”
So far, no arrests have been made and no weapons have been recovered. Detectives are searching for more video and urge anyone with any information to call or text in tips, which can remain anonymous, to 215-686-TIPS.
This is the 17th school district student to be killed during this academic calendar.
CORRECTION: Police initially told KYW Nesradio the victim was 14 years old but later corrected his age. The article has been updated to reflect this.