The victim has been identified as Juan Carlos Robles-Corona.
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The shooting happened at about 2:40 p.m. Monday on the same block, near an elementary and middle school.
Robles-Corona, who was in the eighth grade, was shot four times while walking home.
"These people come up southbound to get him. Not sure if there's one or two shooters, but there were 20 shots fired," said Capt. John Walker with the Philadelphia Police Department.
Officers heard the gunshots and raced over. They rushed the teen to an area hospital where he died from his injuries.
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A backpack, a math textbook and a notebook were left behind at the crime scene.
Robles-Corona had left school about a half-hour early and was gunned down near his front door about 10 minutes later.
The family moved to Philadelphia two years ago with hopes of saving up and buying a house somewhere safer.
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His mother, Maria Balbuna, is unsure why her son left school early, why she wasn't notified, and ultimately why her son's life was senselessly taken.
"As a mother I just need to know what happened. I need this closure for me. We didn't come here for this. We didn't come here for this," Balbuna said. "I need to know why. What did he do? What did he do to be killed like this and left in the street like garbage?"
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His family said Robles-Corona was the oldest of four children, a responsible son who looked after his brothers and worked with his mom at Auntie Anne's pretzels on weekends, saving up to buy a vending machine and help out with family bills.
No weapons were recovered and no arrests have been made.
This shooting came just hours before a 13-year-old was shot multiple times while sitting inside a car in West Philadelphia.
Anyone with information is asked to call police at 215-686-TIPS.