Philadelphia shooting : Possible motive emerges as suspect’s disturbing posts before attack revealed
Suspect in Kingsessing shooting was charged with five counts of murder during preliminary arraignment on Wednesday
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The man accused of killing five people in a mass shooting in the Kingsessing neighbourhood on Monday evening, left “disturbing messages” on social media before carrying out one of several US mass shootings that marred the Fourth of July weekend.
The suspect, identified as 40-year-old Kimbrady Carriker, appeared on Wednesday in Philadelphia County Municipal Court for arraignment on five counts of murder and other charges related to the shooting, which appeared to be random.
Law enforcement officers revealed to CNN that Carriker told them in sum that he carried out the shooting to “clean up the neighbourhood.”
The shooting unfolded at around 8.30pm on Monday when the suspected assailant, dressed in a bullet-proof vest and ski mask and armed with an AR-15-style rifle and a handgun, “wreaked havoc, firing with a rifle at their victims seemingly at random”.
Five people were killed in the attack: Lashyd Merritt, 22; Dymir Stanton, 29; Ralph Moralis, 59; Joseph Wamah Jr, 31, and Daujan Brown, 15.
Two children – aged two and 13 – were also injured by gunfire but are in stable condition. The two-year-old’s twin and a 33-year-old woman were also injured via broken glass.
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Alleged Philadelphia shooter had previous conviction for carrying a gun without a license
Kimbrady Carriker, the alleged gunman in a mass shooting in Philadelphia that left five dead, was reportedly convicted in 2004 of carrying a gun without a license.
He had no further convictions after the 2004 incident.
Mr Carriker was found to be in possession of two weapons — including one “ghost” gun — when police arrested him following the mass shooting.
He did not have a license for either weapon.
Alleged shooter posts cryptic message to Facebook days before shooting
Kimbrady Carriker, the alleged gunman in a Philadelphia mass shooting that killed five, reportedly made a cryptic, seemingly apocalyptic post to his Facebook page just two days before the shooting.
“But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat,” the post said.
It was followed by an excerpt from the Biblical book of Isaiah.
“To save you, I will send an army against Babylon,” read the verse. “I will break down the city gates; and the shouts of her people will turn into crying.”
A father praises the 15-year-old who died protecting his son during the Philadelphia mass shooting
Rafiq Fitzgerald Sr appeared on Good Morning America where he discussed how 15-year-old Daujan Brown saved his 13-year-old son during a mass shooting in Philadelphia earlier this week.
Daujan, who was best friends with the 13-year-old, was killed in the attack.
“As a parent, you don’t want your child around certain people. [Brown] wasn’t one of those types of kids. In my eyes, I’m glad I never kept him away from my son because he was a hero, if you asked me. He died trying to protect his best friend,” Mr Fitzgerald said. “In my eyes, Daujaun is like Superman. I’m so grateful for him.”