Student shot and killed in Southwest Philadelphia

Troy Travis was such a big eater as a boy that relatives called him "Ham."

But as he grew, he grew leaner and became known more for his promise as a basketballer than for his food consumption. "He brought home trophies," his grandmother Robin Crittendon said proudly.

That promise disappeared in a blast of gunfire early yesterday, when thugs fired on Travis and his friends as they hung out at 56th Street and Walton Avenue in Southwest Philadelphia.

Travis was one of two shooting victims to die within 45 minutes overnight. The other victim was slain a mile away.

In the earlier incident, Naim Wilson, 19, of Wilton Street near Springfield Avenue, was shot just after 11 p.m. in the neck and back at 51st Street and Chester Avenue, police said. Medics pronounced him dead on the scene 10 minutes later.

Travis was shot in the head around the corner from his house, police said. He was declared dead on the scene at 12:25 p.m. Minors have a 10:30 p.m. citywide curfew.

An 18-year-old youth suffered a gunshot wound to his hand in the same incident; police found him a block away on Cedar Avenue.

Travis' relatives declined to comment extensively yesterday, saying only that he was home-schooled and loved sports. Philadelphia School District spokeswoman Barbara Farley said Travis was last enrolled as a student in the district for the 2007-2008 school year at Turner Middle School.

Police reported no suspects and knew of no motive in either case.