Elijah Jones

By Jillian Pikora From Daily Voice

A family gathering exploded into deadly violence inside a Strawberry Mansion home early Tuesday, Philadelphia police announced on Tuesday, Nov. 25.

Reginald H. Bates, 46, was shot and killed during an argument with a younger relative inside a home on the 2100 block of North 32nd Street just before 12:30 a.m., according to police.

Bates, who did not live at the property, was found unresponsive on the kitchen floor with multiple gunshot wounds to the chest. Officers rushed him to Temple University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 12:47 a.m., the department said.

Investigators have now identified the shooter as Elijah Jones, 19, a Black male who lives on the same block. Jones allegedly fired four times during the argument, hitting Bates twice and sending a stray bullet into a house across the street, police said.

Several family members, including a child, witnessed the shooting.

Jones was last seen running from the home wearing all-black clothing and a camouflage face mask, police said. A semi-automatic handgun and loaded magazine were recovered inside the property. No other injuries were reported.

Police are urging anyone with information on Jones’ whereabouts to contact the Homicide Unit or call 911. Anonymous tips are accepted. A $20,000 reward is available for information leading to an arrest and conviction.