Philadelphia shooting : Possible motive emerges as suspect’s disturbing posts before attack revealed
Suspect in Kingsessing shooting was charged with five counts of murder during preliminary arraignment on Wednesday
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The man accused of killing five people in a mass shooting in the Kingsessing neighbourhood on Monday evening, left “disturbing messages” on social media before carrying out one of several US mass shootings that marred the Fourth of July weekend.
The suspect, identified as 40-year-old Kimbrady Carriker, appeared on Wednesday in Philadelphia County Municipal Court for arraignment on five counts of murder and other charges related to the shooting, which appeared to be random.
Law enforcement officers revealed to CNN that Carriker told them in sum that he carried out the shooting to “clean up the neighbourhood.”
The shooting unfolded at around 8.30pm on Monday when the suspected assailant, dressed in a bullet-proof vest and ski mask and armed with an AR-15-style rifle and a handgun, “wreaked havoc, firing with a rifle at their victims seemingly at random”.
Five people were killed in the attack: Lashyd Merritt, 22; Dymir Stanton, 29; Ralph Moralis, 59; Joseph Wamah Jr, 31, and Daujan Brown, 15.
Two children – aged two and 13 – were also injured by gunfire but are in stable condition. The two-year-old’s twin and a 33-year-old woman were also injured via broken glass.
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What we know about Philadelphia shooting victim Daujan Brown
Daujan Brown was the youngest person killed in the mass shooting while trying to help his friend who had also been shot.
His heartbroken mother Nashaya Thomas told NBC Philadelphia that the 15-year-old boy was walking to the store when the shooting broke out.
His friend, aged 13, was shot twice in the legs.
When Daujan tried to help him, he was also shot – and killed. His friend survived.
“He lost his life trying to do a selfless act, and that’s how he was when he was here.” said Ms Thomas.
“There was no way you could meet Daujan, have a conversation with him and not fall in love with him.”
Exclusive: Grandmother of Philadelphia mass shooting suspect says he was ‘hurting’
Kimbrady Carriker used to visit his elderly grandmother at her home in Philadelphia every week to help her with grocery shopping and getting her computer tablet to work.
But the visits stopped suddenly about a month ago, she told The Independent in an interview on Wednesday.
“That was unusual,” the grandmother, who identified her surname as Carriker but asked that her first name be withheld, said.
In the days since her grandson’s alleged shooting rampage left five dead and at least two wounded in the Philadelphia neighbourhood of Kingsessing on Monday night, Ms Carriker said she had been searching for answers about what triggered him.
“That’s what I’m trying to figure out, what happened for him to snap like that. What happened?” she told The Independent.
Bevan Hurley reports:
Philadelphia shooting suspect Kimbrady Carriker’s grandmother says he was ‘hurting’
Exclusive: ‘He had to have been hurting himself in order to do what he did. But what tipped it off?’ the grandmother of alleged Philadelphia mass shooter Kimbrady Carriker tells The Independent‘s Bevan Hurley. ‘What would make a person do such a thing?’
Pinterest account bearing suspect’s name shows interest in bulletproof vests
A Pinterest account bearing a photo of the suspected shooter in the Philadelphia shooting as well as their name shows the creator saved a Pinterest board that includes a bulletproof vest and a “how to make a bulletproof vest” pin.
Kimbrady Carriker, 40, is accused of killing five people while carrying out a mass shooting in Philadelphia on Monday.
While Carriker’s former Facebook page has been taken down, the suspected shooter may have other social media profiles, including Pinterest.
The Pinterest board, titled “tactical” was created at least five years ago but includes pins of a bulletproof vest and how to create one yourself.
Carriker was found armed with an AR-15-style rifle, a handgun as well as a bulletproof vest with magazines in it.
Suspected shooter did not identify as transgender
During a press conference on Wednesday, officials in Philadelphia confirmed that the suspected shooter does not identify as transgender despite right-wing individuals claiming he did and using it to attack trans people online.
“The suspect, the shooter, has not identified themselves as trans. They have only identified themselves as male,” Asa Khalif said.
Mr Khalif went on to condemn those using photos of the suspected shooter, Kimbrady Carriker, dressed in feminine clothing to assume their gender identity and attack other trans people.
“The language spewed out by the conservative press is violent and dangerous and it’s targetting trans women of color.”
Mr Khalif added: “I am sure [Carriker] will be punished to the fullest extent of the law but we will not allow trans women, and trans women in particularly trans women of color be the scapegoat for bigots.”
What we know about Philadelphia shooting victim Joseph Wamah Jr
Joseph Wamah Jr, 31, is believed to have been the first victim killed by the shooter in Monday night’s attack – but it was several hours before his body was found.
When officers responded to the scene at around 8.30pm, they initially found four victims in the streets and took the shooter – who was still “actively shooting” into custody.
At around 12.30am, Wamah’s father returned to his son’s home to check on him and found his body on the living room floor.
Police said he had been shot multiple times in the face and the torso.
A school friend paid tribute to him on social media, writing: “Wow Man R.I.P Joseph Wamah one of my best friends from middle school everytime I seen you we talk about our Duckery Basketball days you was really a good dude.”
Sheriff encourages people to raise flags on concerning social media posts
During a press conference on Wednesday, Sheriff Rochelle Bilal asked the Philadelphia community to contact authorities when they see concerning posts on social media that could indicate someone is prepared to conduct an act of violence.
“We can’t afford to stay silent,” Ms Bilal said. “They are letting people know what they are about to do and that is on all of us to not sit silent when you see this type of posts that is threatening to harm us.”
Ms Bilal did not say specifically which posts were found on the suspected shooter’s social media profile that indicated he was going to conduct a shooting.
John Fetterman says shooting makes him ‘incredibly angry'
Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman said his “heart breaks” for the people of Philadelphia and the victims of the shooting that left five people, including a teenager, dead.
“My heart breaks for the people of Philadelphia, most of all for the victims of this senseless shooting and their families,” Mr Fetterman tweeted.
“It makes me incredibly angry that over Fourth of July there was another mass shooting in our great Commonwealth.”
What we know about Philadelphia shooting victim Dymir Stanton
Dymir Stanton was 29 years old and lived on Frazier Street, where the shooter carried out their rampage on Monday night.
He died after being shot in the chest and back.
Twin sister of Philadelphia mass shooting victim says he was ‘gorgeous inside and out’
The twin sister of mass shooting victim Joseph Wamah Jr said the suspected gunman who rampaged through the streets of Philadelphia on Monday night killing five people had “taken an angel away”.
“The fact that you did this to us for your own agenda, for your own reason, is really pissing me off,” Josephine Wamah, 31, said at a press conference on Wednesday, speaking directly to murder-accused Kimbrady Carriker.
“Why did you have to do this to us?”
Bevan Hurley reports:
Twin sister of Philadelphia shooting victim says he was ‘gorgeous inside and out’
Josephine Wamah says she is waiting for her twin brother Joseph Jr to wake up and tell her Monday night’s mass shooting was an elaborate prank