Violent, grisly day in Philly capped by shooting of four teens

Three people were killed, three others were wounded in multiple shootings yesterday, and two slashed bodies were discovered in what marked a grisly day in Philadelphia.

Capping the day was the late-night shooting of four teens sitting in a car.

In that incident, two 14-year-old boys were killed and two other teens were injured in what police believe was an ambush shooting Tuesday night in the city's Juniata section.

The teens were inside a 1997 Toyota at Castor Avenue and East Luzerne Street, possibly lured to that location, when an unidentified man opened fire around 10:30 p.m., said Chief Inspector Scott Small.

"We don't have a motive at this point," Small said. "However we believe this shooting was an intentional act and this carload of seven was told to meet at this location."

A 14-year-old boy was listed in extremely critical condition from the shooting, Small said. And a 16-year-old boy, who drove the group to the hospital, was in stable condition.

The gunman fire at least six rounds at the car. Multiple bullet holes could be seen to have punctured the vehicle.

Police were questioning several people, but no suspects have been named, and no motive was immediately available.

As of the close of yesterday, Philadelphia had officially recorded 12 homicides so far for this year. That's up from 5 recorded the same time last year.

Elsewhere yesterday:

- A 17-year-old boy was shot in the head in Nicetown, and was clinging to life as of late last night.

Police were called at 9:33 p.m. to the shooting on the 3900 block of Elser Street. The teen was shot inside a home. No arrests were made.

He was listed this morning as in 'extremely critical' condition.

- About 4 p.m. yesterday, a man was killed after he was shot at 20th and Mifflin Streets ion South Philadelphia. He was taken to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.

His killer remained at large.

- The bloody corpses of a man and woman, both stabbed repeatedly, and wrapped in blankets, were found in a South Philadelphia apartment on the corner of 13th and Dickinson Streets.

Police found drug paraphernalia in the apartment, but don't have a motive for the killings. The bodies were discovered Tuesday morning.

Eugene C. Zappacosta who lived in the apartment has been identified as one of the victims. A female victim thought to be in her 30s has not yet been identified.

-Additionally: A man who died early Tuesday at Temple University Hospital from a gunshot wound was identified as Alexander Martinez, 23, of the 3500 block of North 11th Street.

Police said Martinez was shot in the stomach during an attempted robbery on the 3000 block of North Hutchinson Street in North Philadelphia about 11:12 p.m. Monday.

As of the close of yesterday, Philadelphia had officially recorded 12 homicides so far this year. That's up from 5 recorded the same time last year.