Murder toll mounts in Philadelphia

With 5 killed early Sunday, city on pace for deadliest year in a decade

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updated 6:24 p.m. ET July 22, 2007

PHILADELPHIA - Five people were shot to death within six hours early Sunday, including three who were killed after an argument in a neighborhood bar, police said.

The deaths bring the number of killings in the city this year to 232, on pace to be the highest rate in a decade.

No suspects were immediately arrested in any of Sunday’s shootings.

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Police said a man opened fire shortly after midnight at Abay Wheelers Bar in the Kingsessing section of the city, killing three men, ages 20, 30 and 31, and injuring a fourth.

On Sunday, a small memorial of stuffed animals, balloons and signs sat outside the corner bar.

A 23-year-old man was also killed in north Philadelphia, and an unidentified man died in the Wynnefield section of west Philadelphia in separate shootings.

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