Philadelphia shooting : Possible motive emerges as suspect’s disturbing posts before attack revealed

Speaking at yesterday’s press conference on the shooting, one Black Lives Matter activist stepped up to denounce the right-wing press for circulating photographs of the shooter in women’s clothing (although he seemingly did not identify as trans), to insinuate his sexuality might have played a role in Monday’s atrocity.

“The language spewed out by the conservative press is violent and is dangerous and is targeting trans women of colour. It’s rallying the community to be violent,” he said.

Here’s Ariano Baio’s report on Marjorie Taylor Greene and others readily picking up that false narrative.

Five people going about their lives on the evening before July 4 were killed by a 40-year-old shooter in a random attack. Here’s what we know about the victims.

Rachel Sharp reports:

Seven people, including two children, were shot in a mass shooting that took place in a residential neighbourhood of Philadelphia on Monday evening.

Just hours before Fourth of July celebrations were set to take place, police responded to calls of gunfire where they found multiple gunshot victims and approximately 50 shell casings.

Of the people shot, five adults were killed and two children were injured.

Law enforcement with the Philadelphia Police Department apprehended the suspected shooter after pursuing him on foot. Police detained the man who was armed with an AR-15-style rifle, a handgun, a bulletproof vest and multiple magazines.

The shooting marks the 340th mass shooting to occur in the United States this year.

Ariana Baio reports:

About one in 20 US adults – roughly 16 million Americans – own at least one AR-15-style rifle, according to polling from Ipsos and The Washington Post, which traced the explosion of the popular firearm from its military use into one of the nation’s most popular and deadliest weapons. One of the firearms carried by the Nashville suspect was an AR-style rifle, according to police.

Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner railed against gun violence and US lawmakers who prioritize the rights of gun owners over public safety in the hours after a gunman killed five people.

“It is time for everybody in our legislature, including the ones who would like to walk around with an AR-15 lapel pin, it is time for every one of them to face the voters. And if they’re not going to do something, then the voters are going to have to vote them out,” Mr Krasner said during a press conference. “Because that’s what that lapel pin means, it means ‘Vote me out. I am against you, and I am against your safety.’”

The suspected shooter in the Philadelphia mass shooting was charged with five counts of murder among other charges during a preliminary arraignment on Wednesday.

The suspect, identified as 40-year-old Kimbrady Carriker, was charged with 11 total charges including attempted murder, reckless endangerment, aggravated assault and carrying a firearm without a license.

The suspected shooter is accused of carrying out the shooting by “aimlessly” firing in a neighbourhood in Philadelphia. Five people, including a 15-year-old, were killed and two children were injured.

Carriker is being held without bail for the murders.

Kimbrady Carriker, the suspect arrested and charged following a mass shooting in Philadelphia, posted on social media about guns and his Second Amendment right to bear arms, according to a review of the profiles.

Among those posts were several from pro-gun groups expressing their support for Donald Trump.

Despite this, Republicans lawmakers and pundits — including Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene — have suggested incorrectly that the suspect is trans.

Philadelphia councilman demands apology after Camden, NJ Democrat calls residents ‘savage’ and ‘barbaric’

The night after Kimbrady Carriker allegedly killed five people in a mass shooting in Philadelphia, a 6-year-old girl was shot across the river in Camden, New Jersey. A teen from Philadelphia was taken into custody as a suspect but was later released pending further investigation.

That was enough for one Democratic lawmaker lash out at the city and its residents.

Camden County Commissioner Louis Cappelli, Jr, said that the county has been working hard to reduce crime, but said his its proximity to Philadelphia makes it difficult. He said that 80 per cent of the guns used in crimes in the county come from out of state —“usually across the river from Philadelphia and Pennsylvania,” according to ABC 6.

That’s when he laid into the residents of Philadelphia.

“We just want to send a message to the thugs and criminals and gun-bearing freaks over in Philadelphia who live in a society of lawlessness - we don’t want you here,” Mr Cappelli said. “Stay out of Camden. Stay out of Camden County. Stay out of New Jersey. Keep your barbaric behavior in Philadelphia.”

He continued:

“So to all you thugs and criminals in Philadelphia thinking that your lawlessness can be spread elsewhere, stay at home. Stay out of Camden County.”

Philadelphia Councilmember Katherine Gilmore Richardson, also a Democrat, took offense to Mr Cappelli’s comments and demanded an apology.

After making clear she was praying for the recovery of the child shot in Camden, she offered a sharp rebuke to Mr Cappelli.

“I am extremely appalled by the derogatory statements made earlier today by Camden County Commissioner Director Louis Cappelli, Jr. A majority of the 1.59 million residents of Philadelphia are self-respecting, law-abiding citizens. To insinuate that ALL Philadelphians are ‘thugs,’ ‘criminals,’ and ‘freaks’ simply because one of the suspects in a shooting has ‘a tie to Philadelphia’ is completely unacceptable,” she wrote.

She continued:

“Not only were his comments disparaging, but they were asinine and unprincipled for an individual of Mr. Cappelli’s stature ... I hope that he swiftly apologizes for his generalized comments and continues to welcome Philadelphians to Camden County as we will continue to work with and welcome Camden County, New Jersey residents who frequent our City on a daily basis with open arms. I am always available to work together if he chooses to do so.”

Kimbrady Carriker, the man police believe carried out a mass shooting in Philadelphia that left five people dead, did not possess a license to own a firearm, according to police.

Carriker was allegedly carrying an AR-15-style rifle and a handgun when police arrested him following the shooting.

Prosecutors believe at least one of the guns Mr Carriker had in his possession was a “ghost” gun — an unregistered gun lacking serialized numbers on its components that is typically built by the user.