In response to the violence, Mayor Jim Kenney announced Thursday night that his administration will begin holding public briefings next week to share ongoing strategies to address “this public health crisis and create communities. safe and healthy “.
Shots were fired in the parking lot of an apartment complex at 1400 block of 76th Street at around 3pm on Thursday in the city’s Overbrook Park neighborhood.
The shooting claimed the lives of a 24-year-old man and a 16-year-old boy.
Police said a 30-year-old man and a 19-year-old man were also shot. Both were hospitalized in extremely critical condition.
One of the bullets hit Valerie Owen’s house.
“I heard a lot of shots,” Owen said.
He said the bullet pierced the window of his grandson’s third-floor bedroom.
“That bullet came in, went through and knocked on the door. So if I was sitting there, I would have been shot,” Owen said.
SEE ALSO: Police: Murder of 15-year-old boy in Kingsessing appears to be a random act of violence
Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw said neighbors probably saw the gunman.
“Considering the number of people shot at once … it’s not only disconcerting, but it makes us believe that there are more people here who know what happened,” Outlaw said.
The second shot occurred around 7:36 p.m., police said someone opened fire on a recreation center at 5500 block of Christian Street.
Police said four men got out of a small SUV and started firing, crashing into three teenagers playing basketball on the court near a school.
A 16-year-old boy died after being shot in the back of the neck. He has been identified as Kyrie Simmons.
Two other 15-year-olds suffered grazing injuries during the shooting. Both teens are expected to survive.
Police said it is unclear whether the 16-year-old was the intended target.
“My daughter is 6 years old,” said neighbor Ed Carr. “You don’t want your child to be here in this kind of environment.”
Kimberly Sciulli, who lives nearby, told Action news that her son was shot three years ago.
“He didn’t die. We can no longer blame the police systems, or any other system, we have to really put it together,” Sciulli said.
The third shot took place around 11.20pm at Point Breeze.
Police said a fight broke out in a group of people on the 1900 Tasker block.
Someone opened fire and a man, who legally owned a weapon, fired back.
After the crowd dispersed, someone shot through the front window of a house hitting a 37-year-old woman, police said.
An 18-year-old man was found outside Dickinson with gunshot wounds.
Both victims were stable.
Police are looking for four men in this case.
Minutes before the third shooting of the day, Mayor Kenney released his statement on Thursday’s violence regarding the other two incidents.
“2021 is on its way to being the most violent year we have ever experienced in our lives. We cannot stand the loss of an entire generation in the face of this scourge of armed violence. We must rise with one voice to demand this violence. horrible. get to the end and work together to achieve that goal, “Mayor Jim Kenney said in a statement.
The mayor said public meetings will begin Wednesday at noon.
No arrests have been made in connection with these incidents. Anyone with information is asked to call the police at 215-686-TIPS.
SEE ALSO: A 15-year-old girl arrested after a teenage shooting, murdered in the Cobbs Creek section of Philadelphia
Read Mayor Kenney’s full statement:
“Once again our city has been shaken by senseless armed violence. Tonight, we have tragically lost a 15-year-old boy who had his whole life ahead of him. I offer my deepest condolences to his family during this unimaginable time. two teenage victims will never be the same either, as they now have to recover from the gunshot wounds that plagued their young bodies and face the long-term impacts of experiencing this trauma.
“Earlier this afternoon, another shooting claimed the lives of one man and left critically injured others (including two teenagers). At this rate, 2021 is on track to be the most violent year we have ever seen. experienced in our lives.We cannot stand by as we lose an entire generation by this permanent scourge of armed violence.We must stand up with one voice to demand an end to this horrible violence and work together to achieve this goal.
“Starting next Wednesday at noon, our administration will hold regular public information meetings to share ongoing strategies to address this public health crisis and create safe and healthy communities. We will be sincere about our challenges and be transparent about our solutions and resources we provide. support to reduce violence throughout the city “.
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