South Street Mass Shooting: What We Know

Philadelphia PA

13 June, 2022

11:01 AM

Description

PHILADELPHIA — Just over a week ago, terror broke out on Philadelphia's bustling South Street as gunshots rang out, leaving three dead and 11 others hurt. Details of the incident unfolded throughout the past week, and subsequently four people have been taken into custody on charges including murder, attempted murder, and assault of law enforcement officers. Here's what we know as of now. Shooters Authorities said there were five shooters in the incident that occurred at about 11:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 4 on the 200 block of South Street. Those shooters are Micah Towns, 23; Gregory Jackson, 34; Quran Garner, 18; Nahjee Whittington, 17, and Qaadir Dukes-Hill, 18. According to authorities, Towns shot and killed Jackson after Jackson and Rashaan Vereen attacked him on the 200 block of South Street. Authorities said Jackson fired at Towns, which led Towns to fire back, killing Jackson, authorities said. Towns was last listed in critical condition. Garner is accused of firing a gun toward the scene where Jackson, Vereen, Towns fought, which led police to fire at Garner, striking him in the hand. Authorities said Whittington and Dukes-Hill appear to have pulled out firearms and started shooting randomly when gunfire broke out between Jackson and Towns, killing two innocent bystanders. Charges Towns is not being charged, as authorities said he was acting in self-defense toward Jackson and Vereen. Vereen has been charged with attempted murder, conspiracy, aggravated assault, obstructing administration of law, tampering with evidence, and related offenses. Vereen was taken into custody on Tuesday last week. Garner was charged with firearm crimes, aggravated assault, and aggravated assault of law enforcement officers. Garner was taken into custody early last week. Whittington and Dukes-Hill are charged with murder, and Whittington is also charged with aggravated assault, simple assault, and reckless endangerment of another person. Whittington and Dukes-Hill were taken into custody by the United States Marshals Service in Richmond, Virginia late last wee. Victims Whittington and Dukes-Hill are accused of shooting and killing Kristopher Minners, 22, and Alexis Quinn, 27. Both Minners and Quinn were innocent bystanders. Minners, who was celebrating his 22nd birthday, was a resident advisor at Girard College. Quinn was a home health aide. Both died at Jefferson Hospital, police said. Towns was shot multiple times in the chest during the incident. Other victims in the shooting are: 18-year-old black male, shot once in the right hand18-year-old black male, shot once in the left buttocks20-year-old black male, shot once in the left forearm17-year-old black male, shot once in the right chest69-year-old white male, shot once in the left calf43-year-old black male, shot once in the right ankle17-year-old black female, shot once in the left leg19-year-old black female, shot once in the left leg20-year-old black male, shot once in the left shoulder17-year-old black female shot once in the left shoulder A 49-year-old black woman was also injured by shattered glass during the shooting. Guns Authorities said four firearms were used in the shooting. Three firearms were 9 mm handguns and one was a .45 caliber handgun. Towns and Jackson were both legally carrying their firearms. However, Jackson likely would not have been issued his carry permit by the Delaware County Sheriff's Office, as an illegal firearm charge was never properly filed in the county when a firearm was found in his vehicle during a 2020 traffic stop. Garner is accused of firing a "ghost gun," that had an extended magazine. It's unclear what kind of firearms Whittington and Dukes-Hill are accused of firing indiscriminately. Timeline Towns was walking down South Street at about 11:30 p.m. when he passed Jackson, Vereen, and another man, Philadelphia Assistant District Attorney Joanne Pescatore said. Words were exchanged between the men, then Jackson punched Towns in the face, she said.During the altercation, Jackson pulled out a 9 mm handgun, according to authorities. Towns was then in the middle of the street when Jackson fired at him, but Towns fired back, striking and killing Jackson, authorities said. Authorities said Towns was on the ground when he fired back at Jackson, authorities said. Between Jackson and Towns, 17 shots were fired. Vereen then picked up Jackson's gun and gave it to another person who left the area, according to Pescatore. That's when Garner began firing in what Pescatore said is believed to be an attempt to help Towns and stop Jackson, although Jackson was already down and it had been 20 to 30 seconds since the initial shots were fired. When Garner stopped firing, a police officer shot at him, striking him in the hand and forcing him to drop the gun, Pescatore said. That officer, a 3-and-a-half-year veteran of the Philadelphia Police Department assigned to the 18th District, was placed on administrative duty pending the outcome of the Officer Involved Shooting Investigation and Internal Affairs investigations, per department protocol. The gun was recovered, and Pescatore said it was a ghost gun with an extended magazine. Garner ran to American Street, then to Fourth and Bainbridge streets, where he told police he was shot during the incident, she said. He was then taken to Thomas Jefferson Hospital, where he remains, Pescatore said. Vereen stayed at the scene to aid Jackson, she said. He later gave his name and address to police, according to Pescatore. At some point during the gunfire, Whittington and Dukes-Hill — who were not associated with Towns, Jackson, Garner, or Vereen — are accused of firing at random in response to the gunfire, striking and killing Minners and Quinn. 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