Man shot to death in apparent ambush outside Philadelphia convenience store

On Saturday night, a 24-year-old man was shot and killed in an apparent ambush attack outside a North Philadelphia convenience store at the corner of North 26th and West York streets. 

According to Fox 29, officials said the shooter was dressed in all-black clothing from head to toe and appeared to be waiting for the man to walk out of the store before approaching him. 

Philadelphia Police Inspector D.F. Pace said that the shooter approached the victim as he walked out of the store, and fired three shots, hitting him once in the torso. He fled the scene after his gun appeared to jam. 

The victim was originally listed as stable when he arrived at Temple University Hospital, but he was quickly downgraded and succumbed to his injuries not long after, Inspector Pace added. 

The incident was one of several shootings that took place in the city over the past week alone. On Sunday, a man on a dirt bike shot two people in North Philidelphia. the two were immediately transported to the hospital. Their conditions are unknown. 

In another instance on Saturday, near Temple University, police heard gunshots and found a man and a woman had been hit. The man succumbed to his injuries, and the woman is in stable condition. 

On Friday, a man was shot and killed outside a popular North Philidelphia restaurant after he picked up food. Police Chief Inspector Scott Small told NBC 10, "We can clearly say that our 33-year-old homicide victim was picking up takeout food when he got into an altercation it appears -- or at least a conversation -- with a male and a female, which lasted a few minutes." He added, "And then you can see the three of them on the street... and that's when a male shooter pulls a gun and fires multiple shots."

According to the Philadelphia Police Department, there have been 236 homicides in the city from the beginning of 2023 to July 22, which is a 23 percent decrease from 307 this time last year. There were 516 total homicides in 2022. This marks an elevated homicide rate from 2020, when there were 499 homicides. 2019 was the previous high with 182 homicides by this time and 353 homicides total.  

Police are still investigating and confidential tips can be submitted by calling 215-686-TIPS (8477) or texting PPD TIP (773847). Tips can also be submitted anonymously online, here.