PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A South Philadelphia community marched Monday in remembrance of a young man who was called a rising musical star.
“My son was amazing. My son was a jewel to the world. I know he was,” said a grieving Tangalle Lewis.
Her son Joelill Foy was shot in the neck and killed last week while sitting on the steps of his row home at about 7 p.m. Wednesday night near the corner of South 18th and Sigel streets.
Foy, 26, was a father of two with a third child on the way. He had been part of the singing group Brotherly Love, who once sang for former President Barack Obama.
“I just cannot believe this, for nothing in the world. Nothing in the world,” Lewis said through tears.
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Community leaders, activists, and police joined Lewis on Monday as they marched down Foy’s block. They shared violence prevention and grief counseling information with neighbors.
“We didn’t get here overnight and we’re not going to solve this problem overnight,” said City Councilmember Kenyatta Johnson.
“When we do these ‘Peace Not Guns’ public safety walks, it’s an opportunity for us to work with the residents, let them know they will not live [as a] hostage inside their homes, but most importantly create a dialogue and partnership and provide resources for the residents on the block.”
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“One thing that does is a direct approach, and it brings community engagement,” said Khalif Mujahid-Ali, who founded the Beloved Care Project.
“Those are the most important things because we talk about the safe havens inside, behind the walls. What about the safe havens that need to be controlled on the streets?”
The current number of people killed in homicides in Philadelphia so far this year is on par with last year’s record-high pace.