A father preparing to walk down the aisle with his daughter and a young man going for a bite to eat were among those killed in the Philadelphia mass shooting.

Global Courant

Ralph Moralis was supposed to walk down the aisle with his daughter this weekend.

Instead, he was shot dead by a gunman less than a week before one of the most important days of his life started firing randomly at vehicles and nearby pedestrians in southwest Philadelphia Monday night.

Five people were killed, including 59-year-old Moralis, and two young boys were injured, authorities said.

“Ralph was a good guy, not just because he was family. Everyone who knew him knew he was good,” said Tyrique Glasgow, Moralis’ cousin. “He taught me to do the right thing as I grew up.”

Glasgow was shopping with his daughter on Monday when he unknowingly drove past the area where the violence had just unfolded. He saw a mob of police officers with guns drawn, but said he didn’t give it much thought because “unfortunately, gun violence happens here.”

It wasn’t until he returned home and turned on the news that he discovered his cousin was among the dead.

Ralph Moralis can be seen here in an undated photo. – Obtained by CNN

“It broke my spirit,” he said.

The tragedy hit Glasgow close to home for two reasons: not only did he lose a beloved family member, but it was also a glaring reminder of the ongoing gun violence in South Philadelphia that he has advocated for for years.

Glasgow, who was sucked into the street life as a teenager before turning his life around, has been shot more than 10 times in his life, CNN has previously reported this. More than ten years ago he founded a foundation to give young people in the area a chance for a better life and later opened a community center to support his neighborhood. (Glasgow was also honored as a CNN hero in 2022.)

“There are no words for these feelings,” said Glasgow.

Monday’s attack was one of at least 356 mass shootings that have devastated American communities so far this year, according to the Gun Violence Archives.

A young man going for a bite to eat

Lashyd Merritt left his Philadelphia home on Monday night for what was supposed to be a quick run to the corner store to get a snack, his mom said. CNN affiliate WPVI.

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He never came back.

“For someone who isn’t out here on the street just going to get a snack — it breaks my heart,” said Marie Merritt.

Lashyd Merritt had run off for a snack when he was killed. – From Marie Merritt

Lashyd Merritt was the youngest of five siblings and loved his family, his girlfriend and his job, his mother said.

“All the things that happen in Philadelphia, he wasn’t a part of that. The violence, he was not a part of that,” she said. “He was my prize.”

In the days following her son’s murder, the heartbroken mother told WPVI that there are thoughts that haunt her daily.

“I feel him say, ‘Why me? Why me? Why me?’ I was in bed and I saw his face and he said, ‘Mom, what happened? And my girl? And you? Mom, what happened?’”

As for the suspect, she said she wants him to “rot in jail.”

“You took my son. You took my baby,” Marie said in a message to the gunman.

A talented artist who offered ‘the best hugs’

This undated photo shows 31-year-old Joseph Wamah Jr. – Obtained by CNN

The two sisters of 31-year-old victim Joseph Wamah Jr. remembered their brother’s smile, hugs, his great sense of humor and his artistic talent at a press conference on Wednesday.

Wamah’s body was found in a house early Tuesday, while the others were found Monday evening, authorities have said.

“I honestly still can’t believe he’s gone,” said his twin sister, Josephine Wamah. “I will miss him very much. He taught me a lot about myself. He was like a second father to me.”

“I really love him,” she continued. “I’m going to find his artwork and share it with the world on his behalf.”

Her brother also earned a psychology degree from Chestnut Hill College, his twin brother said, adding, “He was amazing.”

She recalled Wamah’s “great sense of humor” and said she still hopes she wakes up and tells him that the past few days were just a joke.

Instead, the two sisters are left hurt and deeply angry that their brother’s life has been stolen.

“I have nothing but anger,” his other sister, Jasmine Wamah, told reporters at the press conference.

Two other victims aged 15 and 29

Authorities identified the other two dead as 15-year-old Daujan Brown and 29-year-old Dymir Stanton.

CNN’s Laura Ly contributed to this report.

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A father preparing to walk down the aisle with his daughter and a young man going for a bite to eat were among those killed in the Philadelphia mass shooting.

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