Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – Tragedy struck a Philadelphia park on Thursday night as two individuals fell victim to a chilling “execution-style” shooting, leaving the community in shock.
The victims, identified as Thurston Cooper, 49, and Krystina Chambers, 38, both Philadelphia residents, were found by officers responding to the scene just before 11 p.m. local time. Cooper had been shot in the head, while Chambers had sustained gunshot wounds to both her head and chest.
Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small described the shooting as an execution-style attack, noting that the victims were discovered lying next to each other with three spent shell casings nearby. The close proximity of the ballistic evidence led authorities to believe that the shooters were standing very near to their targets when the fatal shots were fired.
Shortly after police arrived, medics pronounced Cooper and Chambers dead. Small also mentioned the presence of security cameras at a nearby historic property, Mount Pleasant Mansion, which investigators hope will provide valuable surveillance footage to aid in the investigation.
Chambers, a mother of four children, was remembered by her son, Taye Evans, as a loving and caring mother who always prioritized her children’s well-being. He recounted the heartbreaking final conversation he had with his mother before her tragic death, underscoring the deep emotional impact of the loss.
The motive behind the shooting remains unknown as the Philadelphia Police Department’s homicide unit continues to investigate the incident. As the community mourns the loss of two lives senselessly taken, questions linger about the circumstances leading up to the tragic event and the perpetrators responsible for this heinous act of violence.