John Kelly Arrested; – Philadelphia authorities have identified the individual charged with the shooting death of a woman in Center City last week.
John Kelly faces charges of murder, violation of the uniform firearms act, possession of an instrument of crime, and tampering with evidence, as announced by police on Monday, September 8.
On Friday, September 5, at approximately 5:50 p.m., law enforcement responded to reports of a shooting on the 1200 block of Chestnut Street. Upon arrival, they discovered a woman suffering from a gunshot wound. The woman, whose identity remains unknown, was transported to the hospital where she was pronounced dead at 7:18 p.m.
A suspect was apprehended at the scene and taken to the hospital for medical treatment. Following interviews with several witnesses, a second suspect was also arrested after allegedly retrieving the firearm that the shooter had dropped, according to police.
In addition to witness interviews, authorities reviewed video footage of the shooting that had circulated on social media, which depicted the assailant firing multiple shots at the woman. This led to the identification of Kelly as the shooter.
While police have not disclosed the circumstances that led to the fatal shooting, a man, who requested anonymity, informed NBC10 that he witnessed the event. He stated that the woman was shot six times following an argument outside a 7-Eleven store.
“She was in a confrontation with a homeless individual outside the store,” the man recounted. “The woman brandished a firearm, but the homeless man managed to take it from her. He shot her at least six times.”
The witness noted that individuals in the vicinity sought refuge inside the 7-Eleven as the gunfire erupted.
“They were hiding inside the store,” the man remarked. “We secured the store to ensure our safety.”
The intersection where the shooting took place was cordoned off for several hours as police collected evidence and conducted witness interviews.
“You could still see the bloodstains,” the witness told NBC10. “They were right there.”
As of Sunday, September 7, Philadelphia had recorded 154 homicides in 2025, reflecting a 16.3% decrease compared to the same period last year, which ultimately recorded the lowest number of reported homicides.
