A man shot his girlfriend and then turned the gun on himself in a Philadelphia apartment, police say, leaving the woman hospitalized and the children unharmed.
Incident Overview
Police were called to an apartment on the 4900 block of Parkside Avenue just before 11 p.m. on Friday, December 5, 2025, after a report of a shooting. When officers arrived, they found a man in an attached alleyway with a self‑inflicted gunshot wound to the head; medics pronounced him dead at 11:06 p.m. A woman was also discovered in the alleyway with facial injuries and a gunshot wound to the head.
Victim Details
The woman was transported to a nearby hospital where she underwent surgery. Hospital staff confirmed she sustained a gunshot wound to the head and is currently in stable condition.
Perpetrator and Circumstances
Investigators determined that the man, who was the woman’s boyfriend, had beaten her in front of their children during a domestic argument. He then shot her in an attempt to kill her, after which he entered the alleyway and shot himself. The preliminary investigation by the Shooting Investigation Group indicates the incident began as a domestic dispute. Several other people were inside the home during the incident and shielded the children; no one else was hurt.
Additional Context and Resources
If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or chat live at 988lifeline.org. You can also visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional support.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline by calling 1-800-799-SAFE (7233), visiting www.thehotline.org or texting LOVEIS to 22522.
Key Takeaways
- A man shot his girlfriend and then committed suicide in a Philadelphia apartment.
- The woman survived after surgery and is in stable condition.
- No other occupants were injured; children were shielded by other residents.
The incident underscores the tragic outcomes of domestic disputes and the importance of available crisis and domestic‑violence resources.
