Police believe a 29-year-old man was the intended target before the gunfire moved from the porch into the family’s home.
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. — A mother and her two adult children were wounded Wednesday morning when a gunman opened fire outside their North Philadelphia home and followed the siblings inside as they tried to escape, according to police.
The shooting happened just before 10 a.m. Oct. 21 on the 2800 block of North 20th Street. Investigators said a 29-year-old man and his 27-year-old sister were sitting on the front porch when a suspect approached the house and began firing. Police believe the man was the intended target, although investigators have not announced a motive or identified a suspect.
Authorities said the brother and sister ran into the house after the shooting began. The gunman followed them inside and continued firing, investigators said. Their 49-year-old mother was then struck by gunfire inside the residence. Police were investigating whether more than one person may have been involved in the attack.
The 29-year-old man was shot three times, including wounds to his right leg, while his sister was shot six times, police said. Both were taken to Temple University Hospital and were reported in stable condition. Their mother was shot 11 times and was critically wounded. In an updated report Wednesday evening, authorities said she was expected to recover.
The attack left evidence both inside and outside the property. Other local reports said investigators determined that nearly two dozen shots had been fired during the episode. Police closed off a large section of North 20th Street while officers and investigators processed the scene and searched for evidence.
A sister of the 49-year-old woman told 6abc that she was approaching the house as the shooting unfolded and encountered the aftermath. She said she later spoke with her injured sister, who was in significant pain. Authorities have not released the names of the wounded family members.
Neighbors described hearing repeated gunfire during a part of the morning when families were moving through the neighborhood and children were heading to school. One nearby resident told 6abc that the shooting was especially unsettling because her family regularly drives along the street around that time of day.
Investigators had not announced an arrest as of Thursday, and no motive had been established publicly. Police have also not released a description of the suspected gunman or said what evidence led investigators to believe the 29-year-old man was the intended target.
The Philadelphia Police Department’s Shooting Investigation Group continues to investigate the attack. Police are seeking information that could help identify the person or people responsible.
Author note: Last updated October 22, 2026.