Two arrests have been made in a mass shooting that injured nine people in Philadelphia’s Kensington neighborhood back in 2022.
"It has been a minute since this happened," Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner said during a Friday morning press conference announcing the arrests. "This occurred in November of 2022 but thanks to some incredibly good work by the Philadelphia Police Department, the Gun Violence Taskforce, we are able to announce today that both of the individuals responsible for this horrific shooting are now in custody and are facing very, very serious charges.”
The shooting occurred along the 800 block of E. Allegheny Avenue back on Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022, shortly before 10:45 p.m. Police said nine people were visiting various businesses along the block when shots were fired.
The victims ran for safety inside a bar on the block after realizing they had been shot. They were then met by responding police officers.
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The nine victims -- between the ages of 23 and 40 -- were taken to the hospital. Four of the victims were listed in critical condition while five were stable.
“Fortunately, none of the nine victims died," Krasner said. "However, these young men turned that location into a warzone and shot nine people in the back, in the side, in the leg, wherever they could, with zero regard for anyone who was out there on that day.”
Following an investigation that spanned more than a year, police identified two suspects in the shooting, including 25-year-old Michael Smith-Davis of Philadelphia, investigators said.
Smith-Davis was arrested Thursday and charged with attempted murder, criminal conspiracy, aggravated assault, violation of the uniform firearms act and other related offenses.
The second suspect in the shooting -- a teen boy -- is currently in custody in western Pennsylvania on an unrelated charge. He will be moved to Philadelphia next week to face charges in the Kensington shooting, officials said.
Investigators believe retaliation for a prior robbery was the motive behind the shooting, according to Assistant District Attorney Alyssa Amoroso.
"It's our understanding it was targeted, however they did not particularly care how many people they were going to injure or seriously injure when they were going to take out the retaliation at that time," Amoroso said.
Krasner also said they are trying to find any other additional victims of the shooting.
"If there are victims of the shooting out there who have not been in touch with our Victim Witness Services, the number where they should call is 215-686-8027," Krasner said.
The arrests occurred the same day Mayor Cherelle Parker named Pedro Rosario the Philadelphia Police Department’s new deputy commissioner. Rosario will be tasked with overseeing the city’s safety plan for Kensington.
While a press release from the District Attorney's Office said Rosario would attend Friday's press conference announcing the arrests in the shooting, Rosario was not present.
There are additional resources for people or communities that have endured gun violence in Philadelphia. Further information can be found here.
