3 kids slain, 1 clinging to life, in 6 deadly days in Philly

In the six days from last Friday through Wednesday, three children were killed and a fourth was critically wounded in separate incidents in Philadelphia.

Omar Braxton-Cooper had spent just six weeks in this world when his father took him out of it Friday by beating his tiny body and causing traumatic injuries, police said. Omar was pronounced dead at 12:35 p.m. that day at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. His father, Omar Cooper, 31, of the 5800 block of Willows Avenue, Southwest Philadelphia, was charged with his namesake's murder the next day, according to court records.

On Monday, 14-year-old Tymier Frasier and two teenage friends left Frasier's house on the 2000 block of Birch Street in Kensington around 9:30 p.m. They had just turned the corner onto the 2000 block of Orleans Street, where many people were outside enjoying Memorial Day barbecues, when a tall, thin man in a dark hoodie came out from between parked cars and fired several shots at the three teens, said Homicide Capt. James Clark.

Hit several times in his back and neck, Frasier was pronounced dead at St. Christopher's Hospital for Children less than an hour later. A 16-year-old friend who had been with him was shot in the shoulder and was listed in stable condition. The third teen was not injured, Clark said.

The victims apparently were targeted, but police Thursday were still searching for a motive and a suspect. By all accounts, Frasier was a "very good kid" who had no prior contact with police, Clark said.

Many people also were outdoors on the 1300 block of Rush Street in North Philadelphia around 11 p.m. Wednesday night when two men rode up on bicycles and opened fire, hitting three people, including 17-year-old Irell Williams.

Williams, of the 1700 block of Paul Street, died from gunshot wounds to his shoulder and back. Also killed was 24-year-old Dominique Gainey, of the 3300 block of Argyle Street, police said. A third victim, a 20-year-old man, was listed in critical condition with a gunshot wound to his arm, police said.

Clark said the three victims were all "very known" to police and appeared to have been targeted, but authorities were searching for a motive and suspect.

Still clinging to life Thursday at St. Christopher's Hospital for Children was a 7-year-old North Philly girl who allegedly was choked unconscious early Wednesday morning on the 5500 block of North American Street by her 18-year-old brother, who may have been high on synthetic marijuana, police said. Simere Alford was charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault, and related offenses in connection with the attack on his little sister.

He was being held in prison Thursday on $5 million bail.