Easter shootings kill two on streets

By Jan Hefler, Inquirer Staff Writer

Posted: April 09, 2007

Two men were shot to death on Philadelphia streets early yesterday, boosting the city homicide total this year to 108 – a rate of more than one killing a day.

Both were shot in the head and pronounced dead on the street, police said.

Their deaths followed that of a man who died Friday night in West Philadelphia in a place most would presume to be out of the line of fire - in his house. In a second-floor bedroom, Charles W. Baldwin, 42, was struck in the head by a stray bullet from a shoot-out below at 58th and Pine Streets.

No arrests were made yesterday in the three killings. Police said their investigations continue.

Saturday brought a reprieve from the homicides that have given the city unfortunate national attention.

But just after midnight, the body of 19-year-old Terrence Walker was found lying under the Market-Frankford El in the 60th block of Market Street in West Philadelphia.

Sgt. Anthony McFadden said police were called to investigate a report of a man with a gun. Walker had been shot several times in the head. No other details were available.

Two hours later, police were called to the 5800 block of Germantown Avenue, where a they found a man lying face down, shot six times in the head, back and face. Police had not identified him by yesterday afternoon.

McFadden said initial reports indicated he might have been involved in an argument at the New Golden House, a Chinese restaurant that offers take-out and stays open late.