A family in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is grieving the deaths of two generations of women after a mother and daughter were found fatally shot inside their burning home. Sadie Turner, 78, had raised three adopted children, including Gaby Turner, a young woman in her early 20s whose life was cut short alongside her mother’s.
Both were killed on October 12, 2026, in a case that has also drawn attention to another family member, a 26-year-old man who died after an armed standoff with police.
The deaths have devastated relatives who lost a grandmother, mother, sister, and cousin in the same tragedy. Investigators are working to determine what happened inside the family’s Williams Avenue residence before firefighters arrived that Monday morning.
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A Tragic Loss
According to a relative who spoke with 6abc Action News, the family shared a home in Philadelphia’s Cedarbrook area, also described in local reporting as East Mount Airy. NBC10 Philadelphia said it spoke with a relative who stated Sadie was her grandmother and Gaby was her cousin.
“I have a different mom,” the relative said. “That’s my grandma and Gaby is my cousin. And then my other cousin just lost her grandma and her sister.”
Their deaths have also affected neighbors on a block where residents reportedly knew one another. One neighbor told NBC10 that the community was shaken by the violence, particularly because it had happened so close to home.
Sadie And Gaby Found Shot During House Fire
Shortly before 4 a.m. on October 12, firefighters responded to a reported house fire in the 8200 block of Williams Avenue. Emergency personnel also received calls about a shooting at the residence.
When first responders entered the property, they discovered Sadie and Gaby suffering from gunshot wounds to their heads. Both women were transported to Albert Einstein Medical Center, where they were pronounced dead.
According to Daily Voice, which cited Philadelphia police spokesperson Sgt. Eric Gripp, the women were pronounced dead at 4:26 a.m. and 4:40 a.m. Police did not specify which victim died at each time.
Firefighters also encountered a kitchen fire, which was brought under control around 4:30 a.m. Investigators have not publicly established what caused the fire or whether it was deliberately set.
As homicide detectives began investigating the women’s deaths, police were alerted to an armed man aboard a SEPTA bus approximately five miles away. Family members later identified the man as Lonnie Turner, Sadie’s adopted son and Gaby’s biological brother.
Adopted Son Linked To Killings Before Fatal Police Standoff
Lonnie, 26, reportedly boarded a SEPTA Route 18 bus in Philadelphia’s Fox Chase neighborhood early that morning. According to local reporting, he told the driver that he had shot two people and subsequently refused to leave the bus.
The driver and passengers were able to exit safely, but Lonnie remained aboard with a firearm. Officers surrounded the vehicle near Oxford Avenue and Rhawn Street, beginning a standoff that continued for nearly 12 hours.
Relatives identified Lonnie as the person they believed had killed Sadie and Gaby. They also told reporters that he had recently been released from jail in Montgomery County, although the circumstances of his incarceration have not been publicly established.
During the investigation, a troubling social media recording attributed to Lonnie surfaced. In a Facebook story obtained by Daily Voice, he appeared to acknowledge Sadie’s death.
“Sadie didn’t need to die,” he said.
He also made statements about being pushed to a breaking point, although the recording did not explain what happened inside the home or establish a motive for the killings. Its exact time and location have not been independently verified.
Police negotiators continued communicating with Lonnie throughout the day. Around 4:30 p.m., he suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Officers and emergency personnel attempted lifesaving measures before he was transported to Abington Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The barricade situation officially ended shortly after 5 p.m.
According to NBC10 Philadelphia, family members confirmed Lonnie’s relationship to both victims, while authorities continued investigating his possible involvement in their deaths.
Investigation Into The Deaths Of Sadie And Gaby Turner
As of October 13, Philadelphia investigators had not publicly announced a motive for the killings or released a final determination regarding the fire. Authorities were also examining the possible connection between the homicides and Lonnie’s actions before the police standoff.
There has been no confirmed public account of what occurred between the family members before Sadie and Gaby were shot.
The Philadelphia Police Department’s Homicide Unit is investigating. Anyone with information may contact detectives at 215-686-3334 or 215-686-3335. You can submit anonymous tips by calling 215-686-TIPS (8477) or through the Philadelphia Police Department’s online tip form.
Please share this story about Sadie Turner and Gaby Turner to continue bringing attention to their lives and the investigation into their deaths. They are our sisters, and their lives matter.
Case Number:
Agency: Philadelphia Police Department’s Homicide Unit
Phone: 215-686-3334 or 215-686-3335
Email:
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