Missed signs: Investigators say Philadelphia mass shooting suspect showed ‘abnormal behavior’ before Monday shooting

Investigators are still trying to determine what led a man to open fire in Philadelphia’s Kingsessing neighborhood on July 3.

Kimbrady Carriker, 40, is in custody without bail charged with killing five people, in addition to weapons charges, in what is being called a random shooting in Southwest Philadelphia.

City prosecutor Joanne Pescatore said there were signs of “abnormal behavior” before the shooting. “I don’t want to speak on any motive, however obviously this person, from witness statements and things that we now know, was exhibiting abnormal behavior.”

Pescatore said Carriker was allegedly wearing a ballistic vest and carrying guns, including an assault rifle, long before the shooting occurred.

“There were other people in the house that observed this behavior. I just think if someone had called or gotten some kind of help for that particular person this thing could have been avoided,” Pescatore said.

Investigators say Carriker also apparently left a written will, which was discovered by police when they searched his residence. They would not discuss what was written in the document.

Family members also spoke at a news conference hosted by Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner Wednesday afternoon.

Josephine Wamah’s brother Joseph was killed in the Monday shooting. She said he wasn’t a threat to anyone. He was an artist who loved to create.

“I’m just not understanding that he’s gone. I’m just really pissed off. Like, why did you have to do this to my brother?” Wamah said.

Joseph’s other sister Jasmine was a bit more direct: “There’s nothing but anger, I’m sorry, you killed the wrong person, you killed the wrong man.”

Philadelphia Sheriff Rochelle Bilal urged people to say something if they see that someone is having issues.

“We can’t afford to stay silent. They are letting people know what they are about to do, and that is on all of us to not sit silent when you see these type of post that is threatening to harm us, harm our communities, harm our children,” Bilal said.

The event was also attended by local residents and business leaders like Voffee Jabateh, executive director of the Africa Cultural Alliance. Jabateh said the mass shooting is a reflection of a national issue, not a neighborhood issue that is confined to Southwest Philadelphia.

“It’s a national issue for people to think that we will be scared to live our life and work on 56th Street or Chester Avenue. Tell those people who come across, people who do harm, who want to do harm, that we will not be afraid. We will continue to build Southwest Philadelphia based on tools and models that all of us have accepted.”

Krasner said the suspect will be fully prosecuted and added that his social service workers are in the neighborhood to help the families of the victims.

“The bullets don’t care. But we do. And I know the rest of this city does. And I know the rest of this country does,” Krasner said.