Woman, 23, shot dead on Broad Street while driving van with 3 young children

A 23-year-old woman was fatally shot while driving a van with several passengers  —  including three young children  —  and Homicide Capt. John Ryan said Thursday morning that all occupants of the van "appeared to be innocent parties."

Ryan, speaking at a news conference at Police Headquarters, did not elaborate on why the shooting may have occurred, but he said two men on foot fired shots at the van while it was in the northbound lane on the 5700 block of North Broad Street around 8:30 p.m. Wednesday. The men, who Ryan said wore gray hoodies, ran away.

The van was struck by as many as five bullets before veering onto Old York Road and crashing into a business, police said. Tyisha Timmons, who was driving, was struck at least once and was pronounced dead at the scene. Ryan said the passengers included three children under age 4 and at least three adults, including Timmons' twin sister. The surviving occupants were taken to Einstein University Hospital to be treated for cuts and bruises from the crash, police said.

Attempts to reach Timmons' relatives Thursday were unsuccessful. A man who said he was her uncle, Horace Timmons, told NBC-10 that she worked two jobs and was "conscientious. Goodhearted. Didn't deserve for this to happen to her."

An investigation was ongoing. Tipsters should contact the Homicide Unit at 215-686-3334. A $20,000 reward is offered for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of murder suspects.

Staff writer Robert Moran contributed to this article.