Frankford homicide is weekend's fifth

An early-morning shooting death yesterday during a melee outside a Frankford bar was the fifth homicide in a bloody Labor Day weekend. There had been no arrests as of last night.

Police would not identify the 20-year-old man who was shot multiple times and left to die near Bridge and Glenloch Streets, a block from where a large fight erupted after 1:30 a.m.

Detective George Fetters said fists were flying as about 100 people gathered outside the Minnows Bar at Bridge and Jackson Streets and also a block away, where the shooting took place.

Fetters said police were looking into reports that a rap video was being recorded on the street at the time. The victim was pronounced dead at Temple University Hospital around 1:45 a.m.

Police are still searching for the shooter.

On Saturday, shortly after 9 p.m., Dante Benjamin, 23, of 600 Anchor St. was shot multiple times in the 2100 block of Simpson Street in West Philadelphia. No other details were available.

Police also identified the 41-year-old man who was shot once in the back on Saturday in the 600 block of South 62d Street in West Philadelphia. He was Thomas Cherry of the 1000 block of Allengrove Street. The shooting occurred shortly after 5 a.m.

Two other homicides were reported Friday, at the beginning of the holiday weekend, one in Hunting Park and one in Strawberry Mansion.