Man charged with murder in deadly Center City shooting has charges downgraded

Charges downgraded for Center City shooting suspect

The District Attorney's Office has dropped charges against the man accused of shooting and killing a woman in Center City from murder to voluntary manslaughter.

PHILADELPHIA - John Kelly, 45, the suspect who was charged with murder last week following a deadly shooting just blocks away from Philadelphia's City Hall, has had his charges downgraded to voluntary manslaughter, possession of an instrument of crime and related offenses, according to the Philadelphia Police Department. 

What we know:

His charges were downgraded by police after new evidence was reviewed. 

On Sept. 5, officers were called to the 1200 block of Chestnut Street around 6 p.m. for reports of a shooting.

The victim, who has since been identified by police as Lauren Jardine, 33, was brought to Jefferson University Hospital where she died just after 7 p.m.

John Kelly has been charged with murder in a deadly shooting that erupted just blocks away from City Hall.

Kelly was taken into custody at the scene of the shooting and transported to Penn Presbyterian Hospital for treatment. 

A second person was also taken into custody for allegedly picking up the firearm once the suspected shooter dropped it.