El Lounge shooting leaves 1 dead, 2 injured on Frankford Avenue in Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — A 29-year-old man is dead and two other men were injured after gunfire erupted at the El Lounge in Philadelphia’s Frankford section.

It happened around 10 p.m. on Monday in the 4600 block of Frankford Avenue, near the Arrott Transportation Center at Oxford Avenue.

Investigators say dozens of bullets struck windows, doors and walls inside this building, which houses several businesses, including a bar, recording studio and hair salon.

Police say at least two weapons were used, including that high-powered rifle.

“We found over 40 spent shell casings. Clearly, there are rifle rounds. There appears to be over 30 rifle rounds and at least 10 handgun rounds,” Chief Inspector Scott Small, with the Philadelphia Police Department.

In surveillance footage obtained by Action News, you can see three men walk into the lounge. Seconds later, a fourth man is seen running from the establishment. One of the men who entered then walks out with a limp and his friend stumbles out the door, skips about 20 feet, and then collapses on the street.

Investigators say first responders rushed two people, a 34-year-old man and a 30-year-old man, to the hospital in critical condition. Both were shot multiple times in the lower parts of their bodies but are expected to survive.

Police also say witnesses told them about a third man who was injured during the shooting. They found him inside the lounge with multiple gunshot wounds and say he was pronounced dead at the hospital a short time later.

Police have not identified the 29-year-old victim who died.

“Fortunately, there are cameras inside the property, so hopefully the cameras recorded something that can help us with this triple-shooting homicide investigation,” Small said.

According to city records, Nevo Investments owns the lounge.

Earlier this month, L&I fined the company and issued a slew of violations related to zoning to operate a nightclub with live entertainment, failure to obtain an amusement license, and other fire and safety code violations.

“We’re being told that there’s a hair studio upstairs, recording studio upstairs on the second floor. There’s also apartments on the second floor. In the basement, we found more rooms that appear to be bars,” said Small.

A weapon was recovered from the scene but no arrests have been made.

We’re told that homicide detectives will be speaking with nearly a dozen witnesses as they work to determine who fired the shots and why.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 215-686-TIPS.