Two men killed in West Philadelphia shootings

Two men were killed early yesterday in shootings, including one that may have been in self-defense, police said.

Around 1 a.m., a 39-year-old man was shot in the forehead inside a residence in the 5600 block of Appletree Street in West Philadelphia, police said. Homicide detectives were trying to determine whether the shooting was justified.

Around the same time, two men, ages 32 and 20, were shot a block away and taken by private automobile to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, where both were listed in stable condition. They also were being held by police investigating the Appletree Street shooting.

Earlier, a 33-year-old man was shot multiple times in the 5500 block of Catherine Street in West Philadelphia, police said. He died about three hours later at HUP. No arrests were reported. - Robert Moran