Southwest Philadelphia community tries to heal from trauma as shooter's mental health comes into focus

In the weeks before Kimbrady Carriker opened fire at random with an AR-15 in southwest Philadelphia, killing five people and wounding four others, including several children, the few people close to him had watched him grow increasingly agitated and erratic, sometimes pacing the house wearing a bulletproof vest, prosecutors and others have said.

- Claudia Lauer

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Now, in the wake of Monday's bloodshed, officials are urging people to call the police or the city's mental health resource line when they see suspicious social media posts or think somebody might need help. And as Carriker's possible mental health issues increasingly come into focus, the community he left shattered is trying to find ways to heal their own psychological trauma.

Prosecutors earlier this week declined to speak to whether Carriker's mental health played a role in the shooting. No one called to report his erratic behavior, and Carriker did not leave a long history of brushes with police or behavioral health crisis providers.

But posts on Carriker's Facebook page, which has since been taken down, showed a fervor for guns and self-protection and mentioned community patrols he had gone on seemingly alone. Other recent posts shared articles about what to do if you think an evil spirit is following you.

The 40-year-old is charged with five counts of murder, attempted murder, aggravated assault, and weapons counts. Family and previous roommates have declined to comment or not returned phone messages left by The Associated Press.

"If we are talking about somebody who is armed and not in their right mind and capable of doing harm, the option is to call 911," said Chief Inspector Michael Cram with the Philadelphia Police Department's Homeland Security Bureau. "There is no better option if someone is in that type of crisis."