A man and a woman, each sitting in their own apartments, were hit by bullets that went through their walls on Monday night. NBC10’s Yukare Nakayama reports.
A man and woman in separate units of a North Philadelphia apartment complex were both struck by gunfire from outside while they were sitting on their couches and watching television Monday night, police said.
Investigators said the March 17, 2025, shooting appeared to be a drive-by.
"They don't have a soul. The devil is walking this Earth right now," the aunt of one of the victim's said.
Get top local stories in Philly delivered to you every morning. Sign up for NBC Philadelphia's News Headlines newsletter.
Witnesses told police a vehicle, possibly an SUV, was traveling north on the 2600 block of North Howard Street in the Fairhill section of the city around 8:30 p.m. when armed suspects inside the vehicle opened fire. Bullets then struck a nearby apartment complex.
At the same time, a woman in her 30s was sitting on a couch and watching TV with her four children between the ages of 5 and 15 inside a first-floor unit of the complex, investigators said. Four bullets went through the window, drywall and television, striking the woman in the shoulder.
Four bullets also went through the window of a second-floor unit of the apartment complex, striking a man in his 30s in the head as he was sitting on the couch and watching television with another woman, according to police.
Local
Breaking news and the stories that matter to your neighborhood.
Sign up for our Breaking newsletter to get the most urgent news stories in your inbox.
Police officers responded to the apartment complex and took both victims to the hospital. The woman was listed in stable condition while the man was listed in critical condition.
None of the children who were with the woman nor the woman who was with the male shooting victim were injured, Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small said.
"They were very, very lucky that none of those four (children) were struck by gunfire although at least four bullets entered that first-floor apartment," Small said.
The woman's loved ones said her name is Stacy and explained that this is the second time her apartment has been hit by bullets.
"They have to do something about this, they really do. They have to move my niece," Stacy's aunt, Renee Cuffee, said. "The kids are probably traumatized a little bit."
Neighbors told NBC10 that as the nice weather rolls around, that's when violent activity picks up in the area.
“Back in the day my mom always said never put the couch in front of the window because you never know," neighbor Sybria Ward said. "You never know if there's going to be a shooting."
Other neighbors said they are leaning on their faith in the hope that the violence doesn't get out of hand.
“You just got to pray and hope to God he answers the prayers," neighbor Sal said.
There are additional resources for people or communities that have endured gun violence in Philadelphia. Further information can be found here.
No arrests have been made, police have not released information on any suspects and no weapons have been recovered.
If you have any information on the shooting, call Philadelphia Police at 215-686-8270. You can also submit an anonymous tip by calling 215-686-TIPS (8477).
