Meek Mill's cousin among 9 shot on a deadly day in Philly

It was an especially violent Tuesday in Philadelphia. Three men were fatally shot. Six others were wounded by gunfire. A woman was stabbed to death by a man who then killed himself.

Among the victims, one name stood out for superstar rapper Meek Mill.

His cousin, 21-year-old Angelo Colon, was gunned down late Tuesday night in South Philadelphia.

Mill, who grew up in the city, took to his Instagram account early Wednesday morning and told his 10.1 million followers that "Lo" had been killed.

"Damn Lo! Watching my family die to these philly streets! Probation is the only thing that got me tied to come coming back here so frequent!! My mission is to save my family from these streets and change the mindframe of all my lil cousins growing up in it!!!! #RIPLO hurt me to see you in this same spot lifeless!"

Mill posted a photo of his smiling cousin standing outside a corner takeout joint.

Shortly before 10 p.m. Tuesday, police responded to a report of a shooting in the 1800 block of Snyder Avenue. Officers arrived to find Colon shot in the head outside a takeout restaurant. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

A 27-year-old man who was with Colon was shot several times in the legs. Police found him at Methodist Hospital. He was transferred to Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, where he was listed in critical but stable condition.

Homicide Capt. James Clark said a burgundy-colored vehicle drove past Colon and the other man, and the occupants opened fire. "Either or both of them were the target. Probably both," Clark said.

Later Wednesday, Mill again took to Instagram to vent about gun violence.

"The moment you say 'put the gunz down' and try to do the best for yourself is when things never go right!" he wrote.

"That's why I have a hard time telling these young kids not to protect themselves in a environment surronded by evil!"

Police on Wednesday also identified the three other homicide victims from the previous day.

Edwin Cartagena, 32, was shot several times in the 2900 block of North Howard Street in Fairhill around 5:20 p.m.

Cartagena, who lived on the block, was taken by private vehicle to Temple University Hospital-Episcopal Campus, where he was pronounced dead.

Police said Cartagena was doing something with his mobile phone when an unidentified male walked up to him and, without saying anything, started shooting.

Darryl Singleton, 24, was found shot in the head shortly after 7:30 p.m. in the 5800 block of Hoffman Street in Southwest Philadelphia.

Singleton, who lived on the block, was taken by police to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. Police reported no arrests.

Earlier in the day, police were called to a Northeast Philadelphia home where they found a man and woman dead from stab wounds. Police said Virginia McLaughlin, 68, had been killed by Lawrence Carty, 60, who died from self-inflicted wounds. Police said Carty, of the 3500 block of Grant Avenue, killed McLaughlin during an argument at her home in the 12000 block of Elmore Road.

bmoran@phillynews.com215-854-5983