Police identify man killed in Germantown on Monday

A Philadelphia Police Department spokeswoman identified the man who was fatally shot Monday afternoon on a troublesome block of Germantown.

Saleem Harding, 27, of the 5600 block of Baynton St., was shot in the unit block of W. Pomona St. around 4:20 p.m. Monday. He was taken to Albert Einstein Medical Center, where he was declared dead 20 minutes later.

Police have not yet announced any arrests in the case, for which they were reportedly seeking a black 1998 Crown Victoria which fled the scene.

Problem location

Just last month, Pomona Street residents turned to police and the West Mt. Airy Neighbors group for help with “serious drug problem.”

Residents said the drug dealers operate as a team with a complex watch system in which dealers can be quickly alerted of police presence, since Germantown Avenue is in plain sight.

They said illicit trade sometimes results in gunfire, but it is unknown whether this case had any connection to that activity.