In the early afternoon of March 23, 2024, a burst of gunfire shattered the day on the 1200 block of Rising Sun Avenue in North Philadelphia, leaving two men wounded and a community shaken. One of the victims was 21-year-old Joshua Hester, a Black / African American male from Philadelphia. Hester sustained a life-threatening gunshot wound to his chest.
He was rushed to a nearby hospital for emergency treatment but, shortly after 2 p.m., he was pronounced dead.
The second victim, also a 21-year-old man, was struck in his upper lip by the gunfire. He was also transported to a hospital and was listed in stable condition. At the scene of the double shooting, Philadelphia police recovered two firearms. Despite the presence of this evidence, the individual or individuals responsible for the shooting remain at large.
As of the latest reports, no arrests have been made in connection with the shooting death of Joshua Hester. The Philadelphia Police Department has not publicly identified any suspects in the case. The investigation into the incident remains active and ongoing. Authorities continue to urge anyone with information about the shooting to come forward to assist in their efforts to bring clarity and justice to the case. The death of Joshua Hester was one of twenty homicides recorded in the city of Philadelphia during March of 2024.
