Pair charged in South Philly shootout that wounded 72-year-old woman

Two men are facing charges for their alleged role in a broad daylight shootout that left an elderly woman injured last month in South Philadelphia, prosecutors said Tuesday.

One of the suspects – Salvatore Branco, 27 – is also accused of straw-purchasing nearly a dozen guns, some of which have turned up at crime scenes, according to investigators.

Bronco and Rhett Mazza, 37, began shooting at each just before 5 p.m. July 25 on the 1300 block of Porter Street, the District Attorney’s Office said. Police believe the pair exchanged about 20 shots.

Nearly two blocks away, a 72-year-old woman heard the gunfire, came to her door and was shot in the abdomen, PPD Captain James Kearney, of the department’s Shooting Investigation Group, told reporters at a news conference Tuesday.

She survived the incident. One of the bullets struck a neighbor’s dog in the head, killing the animal, according to police.

DA Larry Krasner said the shooting sent people running for cover, and children could be heard screaming on surveillance video.

Branco turned himself in that night, authorities said. At the time of the shootout, he had been under investigation for purchasing and illegally transferring firearms, known as “straw purchasing,” according to prosecutors.

Straw purchasers buy guns for people who cannot legally own them, mainly due to prior felony convictions, and those who do not want to be connected to the weapons, Assistant District Attorney Kevin Bentancur said.

He added that Branco repeatedly purchased the same models – an indicator of straw purchasing.

Detectives honed in on Bronco after recovering three guns tied to him during investigations, according to the District Attorney’s Office. While raiding one home, investigators recovered one of his guns alongside five others – one of which had been used in a homicide, authorities said.

Prosecutors said Branco allegedly trafficked at least 11 guns, meaning eight remain on the street.

Court documents show that he has been charged with a litany of firearm violations. In addition, Branco and Mazza are each facing two counts of aggravated assault, simple assault, and reckless endangerment related to the shooting.

The public defender’s association, which is representing Mazza, declined to comment, and Branco’s attorney could not be immediately reached for comment Tuesday.