PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — As the city approaches 500 homicide victims so far this year, Philadelphia leaders held a press conference Wednesday morning urging people to put the guns down.
About 90% of all homicide victims in the city were shot and killed. More than 2,000 others suffered gunshot wounds.
“It’s heartbreaking, heartwrenching,” said Mayor Jim Kenney. “It’s terrible to every day have to get up and look at the numbers.”
Kenney and others spoke about investing in community-driven programs for trauma, anti-violence outreach and education — and stricter gun laws in the state.
“There are people making money selling these guns, making these guns, and the Legislature … [doesn’t] care,” he said. “They don’t care how many people get killed, and it’s ridiculous.”
Related
When pressed about enforcing the gun laws already on the books, the mayor pointed to setbacks brought on by the pandemic.
“The courts weren’t operating; people weren’t being prosecuted because the courts weren’t open,” he explained.
However, the courts were open, with arrangements, bail, emergency and preliminary hearings still happening, though they were significantly scaled back during the height of the pandemic.
Probation and parole temporarily halted in-person and office visits, according to a courts spokesperson, but phone check-ins were ongoing, and the chief of probation made neighborhood visits. Jury trials resumed in March.
Related
The police commissioner, council president and members, state lawmakers, the U.S. attorney, and other leaders were all in attendance at Wednesday’s press conference. District Attorney Larry Krasner, who was scheduled to attend, was not there. A representative from his office said he was traveling.
Each of the officials shared a common plea.
“I’m begging: Please stop shooting each other. Stop killing our community, please,” said City Council President Darrell Clarke. “Of the census, 30,000 Black people left the city of Philadelphia since the last census, 11,000 white. They didn’t leave the city because of the business net profit tax. They didn’t leave the city because of a whole host of other things that we talk about on the fourth floor. They left the city because the quality of life has changed so dramatically.”
“Be the neighbor to say, ‘I know what’s going on in that household and that’s not all right.’ Be the parent to say, ‘I know what my child is doing, and that’s not all right,’ ” echoed Philadelphia state Rep. Joanna McClinton.
Related
The hour-long press conference only allowed 10 minutes for journalists to ask questions.
Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw spoke afterward outside and addressed the common community question: What is law enforcement is right now?
“When people want to know, ‘What are you doing now?’ It’s a constant reassessment. It’s a constant readjusting to what we see is driving a lot of our shootings and homicides,” she explained. “When we saw there were more young people involved during this summer, we recognized that because of the warm touchpoints that were closed, we had to partner with those who work with kids.”
With six weeks left in the year, the city is likely to surpass the 500 death toll — a number not seen in a single year since 1990.
The police department has taken more than 6,000 guns off the street so far this year — the highest also on record.
