In the early hours of a Sunday morning in Philadelphia, the life of 53-year-old Edison Frazier was abruptly ended by a hail of bullets. The fatal shooting occurred around 12:50 a.m. on January 14, 2024, at a residence on the 2400 block of Myrtlewood Street in the city's Strawberry Mansion neighborhood. The location was believed to be operating as an unlicensed speakeasy.
When police responded to reports of a shooting, they found a chaotic scene with multiple victims.
Frazier, a resident of West Philadelphia, had been shot in the face and was pronounced dead at the scene. Another man, 41-year-old Christopher Smith of Ogontz, was struck multiple times in the chest and succumbed to his injuries after being transported to Temple University Hospital.
The violence of that night extended beyond the two fatalities. Four other individuals were also wounded in the shooting. A 42-year-old man was shot in the hand, a 23-year-old woman sustained a gunshot wound to her arm, a 28-year-old man was shot three times in the leg and hip, and a 33-year-old woman was shot twice in her arm. All four were listed in stable condition at area hospitals.
According to the initial police investigation, it is believed that one or more shooters opened fire from the street, spraying bullets into the front of the house through the door and a window. Despite the number of casualties, authorities reported at the time that no arrests had been made in connection with the shooting. The investigation into the deaths of Edison Frazier and Christopher Smith, and the wounding of four others, remains ongoing. As of the latest available information, there have been no public announcements regarding any suspects or arrests in the case.
