A suspect in three shootings — two of which were deadly — in Philadelphia’s Hunting Park community targeted his victims because they were gay, law enforcement sources told NBC10.

On Thursday morning, police said that investigators are hoping to track down 21-year-old Jahylin Melchur, in connection with a pair of deadly shootings — as well as a third shooting in which a victim survived — that happened over the span of a few weeks.

The three incidents, officials said, happened between Friday, May 29, 2026, and Saturday, June 20, 2026, all in the area of Hunting Park.

Law enforcement sources told NBC10 the victims were gay and that Melchur targeted them because of their sexuality.

Man injured in shooting during robbery

Philadelphia Deputy Police Commissioner Frank Vanore said that the first shooting under investigation happened at about 9:50 p.m. on May 29, 2026, on the 1000 block of West Lycoming Street.

In this incident, a 55-year-old man was found laying on the street next to his car suffering from gunshot wounds to his side and elbow, officials said.

The victim told police that someone walked up to him and announced a robbery before shooting at him, Vanore said.

Man killed in shooting near baseball field

The second shooting happened just after 10 p.m. on Saturday, June 20, according to the Philadelphia Police Department.

When officers arrived to the scene near a baseball field along the 900 block of West Hunting Park Avenue, they found 45-year-old Martin Higgins suffering from several gunshot wounds to his back, Vanore said.

Higgins was unresponsive and was pronounced dead at the scene by medics at 10:41 p.m., officials have said.

Man dies after being shot in the back

Then, six days later on Friday, June 26, officers were called to the 1200 block of West Hunting Park Avenue at about 10:55 p.m. where they found 29-year-old Sharef Holman with a gunshot wound to his back, according to the Philadelphia Police Department.

Officers took Holman to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead around 11:29 p.m., officials said.

Officials said Thursday that the Philadelphia Police Department’s Homicide Unit is actively investigating these incidents and anyone with information regarding Jahylin Melchur’s whereabouts is asked to come forward by contacting the Homicide Unit at 215-686-3334.

Anonymous tips cans also be submitted to the department’s Tip Line at 215-686-TIPS (8477).