Murder charge in shooting near Center City 7-Eleven reduced to voluntary manslaughter.

The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office announced on Tuesday that the charges against a 45-year-old man, John Kelly, will be downgraded from murder to voluntary manslaughter. This decision is based on newly uncovered evidence relating to the fatal shooting of 33-year-old Lauren Jardine during an altercation outside a 7-Eleven store in Center City on the evening of September 8.

Initially charged with murder and other related offenses, Kelly’s case shifted after investigators obtained new video footage showing details of the confrontation. According to a law enforcement source familiar with the ongoing investigation, the video revealed that Jardine attempted to stab Kelly with a screwdriver during the incident. The footage, which lacks audio, reportedly captured Jardine intervening in a dispute between Kelly and his girlfriend, both of whom are identified as homeless individuals frequented the area around the convenience store.

The sequence of events depicted in the video shows Jardine attempting to mediate the argument, after which she and Kelly began to argue. Witnesses attempted to separate them, but the situation escalated. The investigation indicated that Jardine was armed with a gun, which prosecutors have stated she was carrying illegally. In response to Jardine’s aggression, Kelly drew a screwdriver, leading to a struggle between the three individuals involved; Jardine, Kelly, and Kelly’s girlfriend contended for possession of the firearm and the screwdriver. It is alleged that as Jardine tried to stab Kelly with the screwdriver, he shot her.

In light of the newly acquired evidence, the District Attorney’s Office issued a statement declaring that the charges against Kelly would be amended to voluntary manslaughter and felony firearms violations. The office indicated that they will continue to provide support to Jardine’s family throughout the criminal justice process but did not offer further comments due to the ongoing nature of the investigation.

Jardine was pronounced dead shortly after the incident, having sustained gunshot wounds to her lower back and hand. She was transported to Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries. Following the shooting, Kelly was apprehended near the scene.

A preliminary hearing for Kelly is scheduled for September 22, and he remains in custody at the Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility. At this time, a representative from the Defender Association of Philadelphia, which is defending Kelly, has not provided comments regarding the case. As the investigation progresses, the implications of the incident continue to unfold within the community.