Philadelphia police identify victims in New Years Day shootings

Philadelphia homicide rate hits high for decade; 355 killed

The New Year's Eve shooting death of a 47-year-old man makes 2019 the city’s deadliest year in a decade. FOX 29's Jeff Cole reports.

PHILADELPHIA - Authorities have identified three victims who were fatally shot in two separate shootings in Philadelphia on New Years Day.

Police say 41-year-old Eric Miller was shot gunned down Wednesday morning in West Philadelphia.

Miller was reportedly found on North Hobart Street with multiple gunshot wounds to the torso. He was pronounced dead at Penn Presbyterian Hospital around noon. No suspect has been identified at this time.

Police have also identified two victims involved in a triple shooting in Frankford. Investigators say 27-year-old Malik Milburn and 24-year-old Javon Cooper were fatally shot on the 4700 block of Griscom Street shortly before 2:30 p.m.

Responding officers found Milburn shot several times on the scene and transported him to Temple University Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Cooper, who was reportedly shot in the chest, arrived at Frankford Hospital South and died shortly before 3 p.m.

Officials say the gunman was wearing a orange hooded jacket and was last seen running north on Griscom Street.

The New Year's Day violence comes after a 2019 in which the city reached its highest homicide rate in a decade. According to police, there were 356 people killed and over 1,400 shot in the city last year.

Philadelphia, with a population of about 1.5 million, had more homicides than New York City, which has five times as many people but stricter gun laws.

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