PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Five people were killed in Philadelphia over the weekend, adding to the growing number of homicide victims that was at 355 as of late Monday afternoon, nearly the highest single-year number in more than a decade.
Jahlil Thomas Smith, nicknamed "Tommy Flame," was along Salem Street near Womrath Park when he was shot in the head.
He was 33 years old, and had worked for the Philadelphia Eagles the last few years.
Anthony Caliz, 19, was gunned down, shot in the head and chest along Ella Street near Lippincott and A Streets in Fairhill.
Another man, Corey Crippen, was shot 14 times throughout the body in West Philadelphia on Sunday morning.
The city's homicide numbers are nearly 20% over last year's nearly record-breaking year, down from about 38% earlier this year.
Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner said he sees it as a downward trend.
"We need to see some cause and effect to really understand what is going on, but I do not think it is surprising that we are starting to see this during a time period when society has opened up, more than it was," said Krasner.
Current year-to-date totals still remain as both the highest number of homicides, and the highest number of shooting victims ever recorded in Philadelphia at this point in a calendar year.
