Two people killed and one critically wounded after a shooting inside a Chinese restaurant in Southwest Philly

Two people were killed and a young man was critically wounded after a shooting erupted inside a Chinese takeout restaurant in Southwest Philadelphia overnight.

Just before 11:30 p.m. Tuesday, two people with guns ran inside the Shangri-La restaurant, on the 5400 block of Chester Avenue, and fired 15 times, striking two young men and a woman, said Deputy Police Commissioner Frank Vanore.

Neighbors ran to the scene, residents said, and tried to tend to the three victims while awaiting the arrival of police. Responding officers rushed the victims to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center.

But the damage was too severe. Johron James, 19, died minutes later. He had been struck in the head and torso.

A 43-year-old woman, whom police have not identified, was struck in the shoulder and died at the hospital shortly after. Vanore said the woman was a bystander who appeared to be picking up food when she was caught in the crossfire.

A 20-year-old man, whom neighbors described as James’ best friend — “basically blood” — remains in critical condition at the hospital, having suffered multiple gunshots to the torso and leg, police said.

No arrests have been made, and a motive remains unclear, Vanore said.

A woman who lives on the block but asked not to be identified for privacy reasons said James, known by family and friends as “Ron,” was a quiet young man who kept to himself.

The woman said she was sitting on the porch of her Kingsessing home when gunfire rang out. She screamed to her children, who were inside eating pizza, to drop to the floor, then she crawled inside to get to them, she said.

Once the gunfire stopped, and she realized that it had come from the Chinese restaurant, she rushed over. Before she saw them, she knew the victims would be James and his friend, she said. They were always hanging out near the takeout.

Wednesday afternoon, the restaurant remained shuttered. No one from the business could immediately be reached.

Neighbors said James’ family used to live on the block but recently moved away. Still, James and his friend frequented the area. Just last month, the woman said, James celebrated his birthday on the block.

“All he did was smile all day,” she said.

Most of all, she said, she was heartbroken for James’ mother, who she said lost her eldest son to gun violence just two years ago. Now, the woman has lost another child, and his best friend, who was also like a son to her, is fighting for his life.