PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Philadelphia police say there’s a "significant spike" in the number of women killed so far this year, nearly doubled from this time last year at the height of the pandemic.
Sixty women have been victims of homicide this year, up from 35 in 2020. One-third, authorities say, are tied to domestic violence.
"It’s something we are looking at very closely to see how we can be proactive in stopping that, with our partners like Women Against Abuse and other organizations," said Deputy Commissioner Frank Vanore.
He highlighted some unsolved shootings during a city press conference on gun violence.
One of those unsolved shootings involved Shemeeka Franklin, who was killed Sunday afternoon along Willard Street in Harrowgate. Surveillance video (featured above) captured the shooting.
When he looks up the street and sees the victim coming towards him, he appears to hide and arm himself with a firearm.
When she approaches and gets in the vicinity, he fires at point-blank range at least six times.
"Very important that we get this individual off the street. When you watch the video, it’s horrific to see this act," said Vanore.
In another case, investigators say a man named James White shot his 29-year-old girlfriend along Welton Street in Northeast Philadelphia on October 28th, critically wounding her.
"She was hit in the abdomen, hit in the chest. She was carrying a coffee mug. It went right through the coffee mug," added Vanore.
They are still looking for White, and urge anyone with information on either shooting to call in with a tip - even if it’s anonymous.
In yet another case, two women were killed inside a speakeasy along Ridge Avenue in Francisville last week.
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"There is nothing that our investigation is showing that happened inside the building that would have caused this type of violence, no kind of argument. Nothing that would have precipitated this type of violence," said Vanore.
"However, some of our investigation is telling us that something may have happened between one of the females and someone just before they entered this building."
Click the following links for resources to help victims of domestic violence:
- Women Against Abuse
- The Hotline
Ways to file a protective from abuse order in Philadelphia:
- Philadelphia court system PFA information
- Get a restraining order