A multi-year investigation into shootings and murders dating back to 2022 has resulted in the arrest of 19 people, with authorities saying digital evidence drawn from social media posts and drill music videos helped revive cases that may otherwise have stalled.
The cases tied to the arrests involve 35 victims ranging in age from 5 to 42, according to officials. Investigators described many of those taken into custody as “crime-drivers,” alleging several are connected to multiple incidents spanning several years.
The arrests followed coordinated early-morning operations Wednesday in which Philadelphia SWAT officers and federal agents executed warrants at five locations across the metropolitan area. Authorities said five firearms were recovered, and additional arrests are expected…