Crime & Safety

Man Wanted For 3 Park Shootings Identified, Remains At Large: Philly Police

The suspect killed and injured several victims in and around the same park over the past month, authorities said.

The suspect wanted for killing two men and injuring a third in separate shootings in Philadelphia has been identified as Jahylin Melchur, police said Thursday.
The suspect wanted for killing two men and injuring a third in separate shootings in Philadelphia has been identified as Jahylin Melchur, police said Thursday. (Philadelphia Police)

PHILADELPHIA — The suspect wanted for killing two men and injuring a third in separate shootings in Philadelphia has been identified, police said Thursday.

Jahylin Melchur, 21, shot the victims on three separate occasions over the past month in North Philadelphia's Hunting Park neighborhood, authorities said. The incidents all took place in and around the neighborhood's namesake park.

Melchur is wanted for the following, police said:

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  • fatally shooting Sharef Holman, 29, around 10:55 p.m. June 26 on the 1200 block of West Hunting Park Avenue, near the park's baseball field.
  • fatally shooting Martin Higgins, 45, around 10 p.m. June 20 on the 900 block of West Hunting Park Avenue.
  • shooting and injuring a man around 9:50 p.m. May 29 on the 1000 block of Lycoming Street.

Earlier this week, Philadelphia Police shared photos of Melchur, who was then unidentified. Police shared that they believed all three shootings were connected.

The injured victim told investigators that someone walked up to him and announced a robbery before shooting him, police said.

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Philadelphia Police have asked anyone with information on Melchur's location to come forward.

Anyone with information can contact the PPD's Homicide Unit at 215-686-3334 or submit an anonymous tip by calling the PPD Tip Line at 215-686-TIPS (8477). All tips will be kept confidential, police said.

The investigations remain ongoing.

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