Shootings leave 3 dead overnight

Julie Adams has nothing to say to the person responsible for slaying her 17-year-old cousin Kyree Young.

Instead, she hopes for peace.

"We just need an end to this violence," Adams said. "We need to stop these senseless killings."

Young, of Saybrook Avenue near Vodges Street in Southwest Philadelphia, was walking home from a grocery-store job with a friend when he was shot and killed about 1 this morning, according to Homicide Capt. James. Clark.

"It looks like an attempted robbery gone bad," Clark said of the motive for the shooting.

Young's 21-year-old friend was shot in the shoulder and survived, Clark said.

Young was one of three homicide victims killed in separate incidents Monday night and this morning, according to police.

Police were first called to 21st street near Wilder in Point Breeze about 10:15 p.m. Monday over a report of gunshots.

When they arrived, they found Rasheed Rose, 36, of Cross Street near Point Breeze Avenue lying in front of the New Hot Spot Bar, police said.

He was pronounced dead at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania about 15 minutes later, police said.

Police are questioning a suspect but no charges were filed against him today, Clark said.

Police also are investigating the slaying of Gilberto Velazquez, 20, who was shot dead about 2:30 a.m. on Harold Street near Marshall in North Philadelphia.

Velazquez, who was shot once in the head and once in the left side, was pronounced dead at the scene about 3 a.m., police said.

Back in Southwest Philadelphia at Young's home, his cousins lamented the loss of a young member of their family.

Young, a senior at John Bartram High School in Southwest Philadelphia, was considering colleges, his family said.

"He was looking forward to graduating and his mother was looking forward to seeing her son graduate," said Tameekah Allen, another of Young's cousins.

"Now her child is gone." *