‘Slaughter’ Claims 7 in Philadelphia House

PHILADELPHIA —  Seven people killed in a rundown row house had been lined up on the dining room floor and shot by four masked intruders, police said Friday.

Six men and one woman were killed Thursday night. Three other people were wounded, and two remained hospitalized Friday.

“We know that a robbery occurred inside, but it would seem to me that you don’t slaughter 10 people for a few bucks,” Capt. James Brady said. “So I think there’s a deeper motive involved than a single, straight-up robbery.”

Brady said police had no suspects. He also said the home did not have a history of being a drug den.

Police said two of the victims had recently begun selling drugs, and a small amount of crack cocaine was found in the row house, situated in a crime-ridden West Philadelphia area amid homes with boarded-up windows, fallen awnings and overgrown lawns littered with fallen bricks.

“Every house on this street is abandoned. They should knock them down and give the neighbors support,” said Steve Hawkins, a community activist.

It was the nation’s second shooting in two days to claim seven lives. On Tuesday, seven people were slain at an Internet company in Massachusetts, allegedly by a co-worker.

Police in Philadelphia said the victims ranged in age from 15 to 44.

Survivors of the shooting told police that four people wearing masks broke into the house just after 8 p.m., Brady said. “The intention of the perpetrators in this case obviously was to kill all 10 people.”

Charles Williams, 38, described the neighborhood as “real bad.”

“A lot of drugs and stuff,” he said. “It’s been like that for many years. There’s a lot of young kids around here, shooting late at night.”

“The devil’s right here,” said a woman at the scene.