One hot weekend in Philly
Five Dead in Philadelphia Weekend Violence
April 27, 2008
A 15-year-old is dead, an 18-year-old with a bullet wound in his chest, the latest victims of a lawless weekend in the city of brotherly love.
The two were shot at the intersection of Cambria and Amber Streets in Port Richmond late Sunday evening. Police swarmed over the scene, interviewing witnesses.
Officers had a very busy Sunday, with seven violent crimes leaving five dead within 24 hours and seven wounded.
Gunmen also took their toll in West Oak Lane, Olney, West Kensington and South Philadelphia. In Logan a man was beaten to death.
A few hours before the shooting of two teens in Port Richmond a victim was fatally shot at a University City apartment building, and there was little calm during the overnight hours.
Tyrone Miller was heading home from a graduation party in West Oak Lane when his family says he was robbed at gunpoint and shot multiple times. He died on scene.
A few hours later on the 5000-block of North Broad, police say Nicole Wilson beat an elderly man to death outside a Sunoco Gas Station. A police officer pulled up while it was happening and arrested the 26-year-old woman.
Despite the uptick in violence Mayor Michael Nutter believes the city is making progress in its fight on crime. He says homicides are down almost 25 percent compared to last year.
The Mayor told Action News, "You have to look at these things over a extended period of time, not just episodically ... weekend to weekend." But for a city trying to shed its label "Killadelphia", this certainly wasn't a promising weekend. The mayor says while an increase police presence and a surge in police stops have been effective, he and Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey will unveil new strategies for the summer when violence often spikes.
"There's no slacking off, no taking a break, ever in reducing crime here in Philadelphia and that's our main mission everyday," says Nutter.
The Mayor says he'll announce those strategies in the coming days.
(Copyright ©2008 WPVI-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)
This has all the makings of a record breaking year. Mayor Nutjob and his trusty sidekick, Commissioner Chuckie have their hands full already. Stay tuned for more madness and mayhem!!!!!!
|