Gladys Rivera-Perez Obituary, Death; – The tragic incident unfolded around 1:15 p.m. on Friday, June 28, in the 3400 block of Tampa Street in Philadelphia’s Kensington neighborhood. Following a dispute among teenage girls, a white vehicle pulled up, and a gunman emerged from the driver’s side, firing shots at the group. The chaos continued as the gunman pursued the fleeing individuals, firing another round on the 600 block of E. Ontario Street.
Gladys Rivera-Perez, a 59-year-old woman, was on her porch on Crystal Street when she heard the gunshots. Seeking safety inside her home, she was followed by those escaping the gunman. Tragically, the gunman fired two shots into the house, with one striking Rivera-Perez as she attempted to reach the second floor. Despite being rushed to St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children, she succumbed to her injuries at 1:44 p.m. that day.
Law enforcement officers were able to track the gunman’s vehicle to an address on the 1300 block of St. Vincent Street, leading to a barricade situation. The vehicle owner was located inside the residence, detained for questioning, and subsequently released pending further investigation.
Described as a 39-year-old Hispanic man with a stocky build, long beard, red shirt, and dark baseball cap, the suspect remains at large. Anyone with information on his identity or whereabouts is urged to contact Philadelphia police at 215-686-TIPS (8477).
Despite the recent tragedy, Philadelphia has seen a 38 percent decrease in reported homicides compared to the same period last year, with 130 homicides reported as of Sunday night. In response, law enforcement has bolstered patrols in Kensington as part of the city’s ongoing efforts to ensure public safety.
