Shooting Claims Life of Man During Philadelphia Pride Celebration

Philadelphia, PA – A man has died following a shooting that occurred during the city’s Pride celebrations early Monday morning. Derwin Darnell Joseph Matthews Jr., a 28-year-old chef and member of Philadelphia’s ballroom community, was critically injured when he was shot near Woody’s Bar, a popular gay bar.

The shooting took place around 2:45 AM in an alley on the 200 block of Camac Street. Police arrived at the scene after receiving multiple reports of gunfire and found Matthews suffering from a gunshot wound to the stomach. He was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead at 6:20 AM.

Jacen Bowman, president of Philadelphia’s Black Pride, expressed sorrow over Matthews’s death, calling him “an amazing overall young man” and emphasizing the tragedy of such violence occurring during Pride celebrations.

According to initial investigations, Matthews was involved in an argument with the suspect before the shooting took place. Law enforcement is currently searching for a male suspect believed to be in his late teens or early 20s, last seen wearing a beige shirt and grey shorts, who was captured on video fleeing the scene.

This incident follows heightened concerns about safety during LGBTQ+ events after a history of threats to such gatherings. As the investigation continues, authorities urge anyone with information about the incident to come forward.