Young father paralyzed in drive-by as teen among those killed in shootout on Philadelphia street: ‘Put the guns down, man’

A previous victim of gun violence who turned into a community advocate for fellow survivors was among the three people gunned down in a hail of bullets early Monday in South Philadelphia, according to reports.

Azir Harris, 24, who had used a wheelchair since being struck in a drive-by shooting as a teen, was shot in the back several times and pronounced dead at the hospital.

In the years since he was paralyzed, Harris had worked diligently to curb gunfire in his neighborhood, his family said.

“Taking him away took my whole family,” his father, Troy Harris, told NBC 6. “We living, but a piece of us is missing.”

Harris, who was also a father of a 1-year-old boy, was visiting South Etting Street in Grays Ferry for a cookout after dozens congregated the night before to commemorate four young men fatally shot years earlier, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported.

When gunfire started around 1 a.m., Harris and his girlfriend, Siani Wylie, were caught in the crossfire.

Harris’ wheelchair could not get through two cars to take cover, and Wylie was wounded as she tried to protect her beau, according to the outlet.

“The kid fought so hard to stay here,” his emotional father told the Inquirer. “And look … look what happened.”

Azir was paralyzed after he was shot in a drive-by shooting when he was 17 years old as he walked to a deli in 2018, according to reports.

As a survivor of gun violence, he shared his story with others in hopes of helping others.

“He was seeing a lot of his friends around him dying, and I told him you’re special, tell everybody your story,” Troy Harris recalled to NBC 6.

His father additionally told the Inquirer that Azir would “try to do everything he can to try and put a smile on people’s faces.”

The deadly gunfire was part of an endless weekend of bloodshed in which six people were killed and scores more wounded in shootings.

In addition to Harris, two other young men were killed during Monday’s shooting, and nine more were wounded.

Police have yet to charge anyone in connection with the shooting, but multiple suspects were involved.

“These youths are taking it to the extreme,” Troy Harris told NBC 6.  

“They think killing each other is a game. You don’t come back from that. It’s not a game. You hurt families, destroy lives. All I can say is put the guns down. Put the guns down, man.”