PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A community in West Philadelphia continues to grapple with the shooting death on Friday of a Parks and Recreation employee near Mill Creek Recreation Center. At a Monday press conference, officials said 41-year-old Tiffany Fletcher was an innocent bystander, fatally shot when she was caught in the crossfire of a gunfight.
"Over the past few years, we have responded to an increasing number of violent incidents at our parks and playgrounds,” said Kathryn Ott Lovell, the commissioner of Philadelphia Parks and Recreation. “We are grateful to the staff who continue to come to work each day and serve our communities tirelessly."
Friends, family and colleagues said Fletcher was a loving mother who gave selflessly and cared about her community. They spoke of her passion and dedication to her job.
Fletcher’s niece, Jane Washington called for answers.
"She loved everybody, she’d give you the shirt off her back, she gave you the food off her table. I just want peace for my aunt,” said Washington — one more heart broken by yet another tragic shooting in the city.
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“Please, if you know something, say something. Tiffany Fletcher was a good woman to everybody. She was a friend. She was an advocate."
Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw expressed her outrage.
"We're talking about how there are supposed to be sacred and safe spaces available for our kids. And they're becoming backdrops for unimaginable acts of violence," Outlaw said.
A 14-year-old boy has been arrested in connection with the shooting, and police are still seeking others.
To stave off the violence, the city needs more safe spaces for teens to learn conflict resolution, said Cass Green, founder of the nonprofit Mill Creek Community Partnership.
“I believe that we have more power capacity and can have more impact if we work in collaboration.”
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