February 15, 2011 (WPVI) — Philadelphia police say they are seeking three people in connection with the shootings deaths of two cousins in Northeast Philadelphia on Valentine’s Day.
Police say they are still looking into the exact circumstances of the killings. Tiffany Barnhill, 19, and her cousin Marcedes Ivery, 21, were found shot to death at 5430 Rutland Street around 3:45 p.m. Monday.
Witnesses say three suspects, two women and a man, were seen fleeing the scene after shots were heard by neighbors.
Police say there were signs of forced entry through the front door.
Family members tell Action News that Barnhill had broken up with her boyfriend earlier in the day and had gone to Ivery’s home to talk about it.
Investigators say it may seem logical to focus on the Valentine’s Day breakup as the motive for these murders. But homicide detectives tell Action News this morning they are considering a number of possible motives.
“The family has been great, they’ve talked to investigators, they’ve given us several leads that we are in the process of tracking down,” said Capt. James Clark of the Philadelphia Police. “Hopefully we’ll be able to get this killer and bring him to justice very shortly.”
Meanwhile, the victims’ families are devastated.
“All I could say is, it was a senseless tragic act, it should have never happened to anyone,” relative Tamika Scott said.
Relatives say the victims were inseparable.
