Mayor Kenney kicked things off by making a very stark statement. 2021 is on track to be the most violent year we ve experienced in our lifetimes, he said.
The numbers behind that statement are terrifying. As of Tuesday night, there have been 103 homicides in the city of Philadelphia, fewer than three months into the new year.
Thirteen of those victims were children, 12 of whom were shot to death.
Officers were on patrol at numerous Philadelphia recreation centers on Monday night after two teens were gunned down last week.
That marks an overall homicide increase of 32% year-to-date over 2020, which was the deadliest year Philadelphia experienced in decades.
Women Forward: Activist risks her life to continue helping others amid COVID-19
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He was murdered in 2012.
This year, Pichardo braved a nor easter, but she s a woman on a mission that extends beyond activism for peace.
Kensington is home base for her nonprofit, Operation Save Our City, and of the opioid epidemic, which hasn t slowed during the pandemic.
She s armed with hand sanitizer, masks and Narcan, and has reversed almost 500 overdoses, recorded in a little black book she tucks in fanny packs.
When asked why she puts herself in these situations, Pichardo replied, Because this is the need of my community. I know what my community needs and they need what we ve been doing, and nobody else is going to do it. Nobody else has been doing it.
Philadelphia police captain expressing frustration over gun violence surge
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PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) An officer with the Philadelphia Police Department said he is using social media to show the community some of the things the department is doing to fight gun violence, along with keeping people informed on the entire criminal justice procedures. I m frustrated on many levels, said Matthew Gillespie, captain for the 18th police district.
Gillespie said he has been on the force for almost two decades. He said this year, the city has seen a rise in shootings in his district, mentioning in 2019 there were 61 shootings and this year there have been 105.