UPDATE (12/17/2015): Police have identified the victim as 35-year-old Mark Marshall from the 4500 block of Kingsessing. The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that the man was returning home from a shopping trip to a nearby store and was walking on the 4600 block of Kingsessing with his two dogs when he was approached by an unknown male wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt and orange hat and shot multiple times. The assailant then got into the passenger seat of a silver minivan and fled.
Witnesses told police that there was an argument between the two men before the shooting. It’s not clear whether the two men knew each other.
Many people heard the gunshots and some took to social media to express their sadness for the victim and his family and friends:
@WestPhillyLocal @micly215 I was on my porch last night when the shots rang out. Sending prayers to the man’s fam.
— dionne stanfield (@dionnestanfield) December 17, 2015
(12/16/2015, 9 p.m.): A fatal shooting was reported on Wednesday evening at around 7:45 p.m. near 47th and Kingsessing. A 35-year-old man was shot multiple times, according to police. They’re searching for a silver Town & Country minivan that fled the scene. The victim was transported to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center and was pronounced dead at 8:05 p.m.
December 17th, 2015 at 12:38 am
I know it’s early, but do police think the shooting was random? As in the shooter was “unkown” to the victim, or just unidentified in general? We heard a ton of sirens earlier, but didn’t hear any gunshots, and we’re only a block away from 47th & Kingsessing.
December 17th, 2015 at 3:49 am
I’ve seen this for years. I Give us some details about the suspect. Race, ethnicity, appearance? It’s criminally negligent not to do so. Is this West Philly liberal guilt at work?
December 17th, 2015 at 8:38 am
David: it’s basically a regurgitation of the info available @ philly.com where there is also no description of either person. Not saying that’s helpful, but it’s equally unproductive to point the finger at WPL as though they were on the scene. http://mobile.philly.com/beta?wss=%2Fphilly%2Fnews&id=362728451
December 17th, 2015 at 1:15 pm
No shooting is random – that’s a ridiculous idea. The shooter is just unidentified. Hopefully, they can figure it out because there were a ton of witness on the street that night.
December 17th, 2015 at 2:58 pm
Random as in they knew each other versus a hold up I think was the meaning… I think people who live nearby are pretty understandably trying to assess risk to themselves and others. I will be glad to have more information myself.
December 17th, 2015 at 3:36 pm
Does anyone know what happened to the dogs? Are they safe?
December 17th, 2015 at 3:44 pm
Every time something like this happens people want to bring race, ethnicity, appearance. So let’s say it was a ________ man. So now when I see a ______man I can assume they may want to shoot me? What is the difference? Either they catch this person or they don’t. The person’s background means little unless we want to stereotype what someone can do based on their race. That idea can only lead to people acting racist. I can see no good from this. Shootings are very random. This situation seems random. Some guy goes to get food, happens to piss someone off, then that person shoots them. That is very random. I barely read these comments because there are always people posting vague racist ideas. Yuck.
December 17th, 2015 at 4:17 pm
Holly:
The original philly.com article references a neighbor taking care of the dogs.
December 17th, 2015 at 4:18 pm
Thank you, Corey!
December 18th, 2015 at 11:05 am
I love how this site deletes comments for no reason.
December 18th, 2015 at 1:10 pm
Shootings are rarely random
December 18th, 2015 at 2:04 pm
I knew Mark a little bit. He was a great guy. This is really sad news.
December 18th, 2015 at 10:05 pm
According to this article Mark Marshall also worked for the Philadelphia Parking Authority. Is it possible that it’s related?
http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/Kingsessing-Avenue-Chihuahua-Walker-Shooting-Death-362764741.html
December 22nd, 2015 at 9:41 am
Is there any update on this horrible crime? I live a few blocks away, and haven’t seen anything in the news if the killer has been apprehended.
December 22nd, 2015 at 11:12 am
Hi Brendan. So far no arrests have been made. Another man was shot and killed while walking his dog in the Haddington section last night, according to NBC.
December 24th, 2015 at 6:22 pm
A man is shot and killed. Some of you are worrying about dogs. Jesus Christ..
December 25th, 2015 at 11:03 pm
Where’s the contradiction?