First victim of Philly gunman was killed 44 hours before mass shooting, police say

One of the five slain victims of the Philadelphia mass shooter was killed by the suspect nearly two days before the shooting spree took place, investigators said on Sunday.

“During the ongoing investigation, it has been determined through information received through a source and corroborated by the Philadelphia Medical Examiner’s Office and additional evidence; that homicide victim Joseph Wamah, Jr. was killed by suspect Kimbrady Carriker approximately 44 hours before the mass shooting incident that occurred on 7/3/23 at 8:28 PM,” a Philadelphia Police spokesperson wrote on Sunday.

Police said they first received a 911 call around 2 a.m. on the morning of July 2 reporting gunshots in the area of 1600 South 56th Street. Investigators believe Wamah Jr., 31, was murdered about 90 minutes later. The 911 call was dispatched to the 1600 block of North 56th Street where responding officers searched the block but had negative results for the reported gunshots.

Read more: NBC Philadelphia