Security at Philly homeless shelter under review after homicide; suspect in custody [updated]

Philadelphia’s Mayor and Police Commissioner are discussing how to improve security at city homeless shelters after a fatal shooting over the weekend, however the alleged shooter turned himself in to authorities.

Mayor Jim Kenney says something must be done to make sure there isn’t another fatal shooting in a shelter.

“I was thinking in my own mind and I’m not a security expert maybe equipping staff with wands,” he said. “When you go into an Eagles game you get wanded, I know people out on the streets, it’s tough out there and they get weapons like knives or something to protect themselves so we need to get them out of their knapsacks and backs before they come into the shelter so no one’s hurt.”

Police Commissioner Richard Ross says they will start with evaluating the shelter when the shooting happened.

“We’ll send our counterterrorism, homeland security folks who are the experts there to do a full look at the entire premises and see what we can offer,” he said.

No final changes have been determined at this point.

Authorities say the alleged shooter as John Brock, 32, who had lived at the shelter for two and a half months turned himself in to homicide investigators Monday afternoon.  Police say he was barred from entering the shelter early Saturday because he was intoxicated and broke curfew.  He returned on Sunday, seeking his belongins and ended up arguing with staff, said police.  Brock allegedly returned with a gun, shooting and killing Edward Barksdale and injuring another shelter employee.