Philadelphia mass shooting suspect told police the rampage was an attempt to fight gun violence, sources say
Ernest Ransom, commanding officer of homicide, provides updates on the mass shooting in Kingsessing. - Tyger Williams/The Philadelphia Inquirer/TNS

PHILADELPHIA — The shooter accused of killing five people during a harrowing rampage in Southwest Philadelphia Monday night told police the shooting spree was an attempt to help authorities address the city’s gun violence crisis, and that a deity would be sending more people to help, according to sources familiar with the investigation.

The assertions by Kimbrady Carriker were made to police in the hours after Carriker was arrested on the 1600 block of South Frazier Street, said the sources, who requested anonymity to discuss the ongoing investigation.