Police in Pennsylvania are investigating a shooting that killed a man and his son on Sunday night, one of several violent scenes over the Memorial Day weekend in Philadelphia.
Family members have identified the victims as 37-year-old Gerald “Jerry” Parks and 9-year-old Jamel Parks.
Jerry Parks and his son, Jamel Parks, were shot and killed after returning from a cookout Memorial Day weekend.
It happened shortly after 10:30 p.m. on Carver Street near Torresdale Avenue in the city’s Wissinoming section.
The father and son had just returned from a cookout and were still sitting in their car.
Vanessa Frame lost her husband and son in one night.
“I don’t understand how this can happen,” Frame told local on Monday morning. “I was lying in bed with my daughter, and I heard a whole bunch of shots, and I’m like, ‘I don’t know if it’s firecrackers. I came outside, and they were saying somebody was shot. So I went to see if it was his car- and it was. And he was just in there. Just lying there. I grabbed my son, and he just was like- could clearly see he was gone.”
Officers examined bullet holes in the victims’ car and shell casings in the street.
Two houses were also struck by gunfire.
“The crime scene consists of at least 13 rounds from two separate caliber weapons, striking both victims multiple times,” according to Philadelphia Police Inspector D.F. Pace.
Pace continued, “The vehicle was struck multiple times as were two houses in the backdrop. And it appears after the shooters who began shooting at the vehicle as they were approaching it, they continued shooting at the vehicle as they were driving away.”
Arriving officers rushed the victims to area hospitals.
Jerry Parks was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at the hospital.
Jamel was taken to Saint Christopher’s for Children where he was also pronounced dead.
The family has now created a GoFundMe account to help with expenses.
Jamel is the second of three kids, much loved by his friends and family, including his older brother and younger sister.
No arrests have been made.
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