Phila. gunman wounds his ex, kills himself

A Philadelphia teacher was left in extremely critical condition yesterday morning after her ex-boyfriend shot her and then turned the gun on himself.

Lenin Valdez, 34, was declared dead at the scene in the Rhawnhurst section.

His ex-girlfriend, Bexis Matos, 22, teaches African American studies at Frankford High School, a spokesman for the School District said. Matos was taken to Aria Health-Torresdale Campus.

She was being picked up by a coworker shortly before 7 a.m. when Valdez approached their car outside the Meadowview Apartments in the 8100 block of Algon Avenue, police said.

Valdez pulled Matos out of the car and she ran down the street, said Lt. Frank Vanore, a police spokesman. Valdez chased her down and shot her, Vanore said. He then killed himself.

Philadelphia police had not received any domestic-violence calls from Matos' address, but she had sought a protection order this week, sources said.

People seeking protection orders can request police assistance to serve them or deliver the order themselves. Matos did not seek police assistance to serve the order on Valdez and it was unclear whether he received it.

Police listed Valdez's last address as the Bronx borough of New York City, but public records showed he moved to Philadelphia in November.