A $30,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest of a third suspect wanted in connection with the mass shooting in Philadelphia.
Three people were killed and another 12 were injured when gunfire broke out Saturday night in the bustling South Street entertainment district. It was one of at least 11 mass shootings across the country over the weekend, including one in Chattanooga Tenn., where three people were killed, and another at a graduation party in Socorro, Texas, which also left three dead.
Authorities believe the chaos in Philadelphia was sparked around 11:30 p.m. by an altercation between two men, identified as Mika Townes and 34-year-old Gregory Jackson. At one point during the confrontation, police said Jackson pulled out a gun and fired, prompting his rival to do the same.
Jackson was fatally struck and pronounced dead on the scene. The other two people killed — 27-year-old Alexis Quinn and an unidentified 22-year-old man — like many of those wounded in the shooting, were innocent bystanders, police said.
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Both Jackson and Townes, who remained in critical condition, were licensed to carry their firearms.
Two suspects, Quran Garner, 18, and Rashaan Vereen, 34, have been arrested so far and charged in the shooting. Garner, who was shot in the hand by police as he attempted to flee, was already in custody at a hospital when Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner announced on Monday that he is charged with two counts of aggravated assault and two counts of aggravated assault on law enforcement officers.
Vereen was arrested by U.S. Marshals Monday afternoon at a home in South Philadelphia. He’s been charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person, conspiracy, violating the uniform firearms act, possession of an instrument of crime, tampering with evidence and obstruction of justice.
A manhunt continued on Wednesday for a third suspect in the case, police said. He was described as a Black male in his late teens, tall and heavyset with a light- to medium-complexion and with bushy hair. He was wearing a COVID-style mask and a black hooded shirt with distinctive markings, police said.
“This male is considered armed and dangerous,” police said in a statement.
Anyone with information on the suspect’s whereabouts has been asked to call 215 686-TIPS(8477) with information, or the PPD Homicide Unit at 215-686-3334
With News Wire Services
