2 arrested for 2022 mass shooting in Philadelphia's Kensington section
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Two people have been arrested in connection to a November 2022 mass shooting in Philadelphia's Kensington section that left nine people injured.
Michael Smith-Davis, 25, of North Philadelphia, faces charges including attempted murder, criminal conspiracy, aggravated assault in violation of the Uniform Firearms Act and more related offenses.
Smith-Davis was arrested Thursday at Kensington and Lippincott Avenues, Assistant District Attorney Alyssa Amoroso said in a news conference.
Police said 24th District officers responded to Kensington and Allegheny Avenues on Sunday, Nov. 5, 2022, for reports of a person with a gun and multiple people shot in the area. They said they arrived and found nine people with gunshot wounds.
All nine victims were taken to Temple University Hospital. Police said four were listed as critical and five were listed as stable following the shooting.
Investigators later learned two men jumped out of a car near the corner and began firing dozens of shots at a group of people outside Jack's Bar.
Police said the nine people who were shot took shelter in the bar on 800 block East Allegheny Avenue after being startled by gunshots while being at various businesses in the area.
The investigation is ongoing.
Philadelphia Police Capt. James Kearney of the Shooting Investigation Division said in addition to Smith-Davis, a man under 18 years old who is in custody in western Pennsylvania will be extradited to Philadelphia to face charges.
An arrest warrant was issued for that second suspect, who is already in custody on an unrelated charge, police said.
News of the arrests fell on the same day that new Mayor Cherelle Parker announced a new deputy commissioner in the Philadelphia Police Department who will focus on addressing public safety in Kensington.
DA's office still looking to contact victims of Nov. 5, 2022 mass shooting outside Jack's Bar
Amoroso has been in touch with victims of the shooting and their families - but there are still four or five she cannot reach, she said at a news conference on Friday.
Victims should contact the DA's office's Victim Witness Services Unit at 215-686-8027.
"These men turned that location into a warzone and shot nine people in the back, in the side, in the leg, wherever they could, with zero regard for anyone who was out there that day," District Attorney Larry Krasner said.
"There are dangerous individuals who think that they have gotten away with crimes in this city," Amoroso said. "But I think that our unit has shown time and time again that the gun violence task force will find you."
Council member Jim Harrity has hope for Kensington, tells criminals to "stay the hell out"
Councilmember Jimmy Harrity said he lives close to the bar where the shooting happened and the victims are his neighbors. He also said he has hope the safety issues in the neighborhood can be addressed.
"Our mission is to clean up and Kensington, and to make Kensington the kind of place that people want to live," he said.
Harrity said he's been there 16 years and his wife has been in the neighborhood for 50 years.
"The neighbors need a break, they are good people. They are just scared, they cannot leave their homes," Harrity said.
On the charges filed over a year later, he said: "this just goes to show you that we are not going to stop."
"It doesn't matter how much time this lasts - this case is from 2022. We are coming for you, we are going to get you. We are going to arrest you, we are going to charge you and we are going to convict you. So do us a favor, stay the h--l out of our neighborhood," Harrity said.
