PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A crowd of people walking side by side on Thursday evening passed through the southwest Philadelphia neighborhood where police say a gunman on Monday, wearing a ski mask and body armor and wielding a weapon of war, took five souls and wounded four people, including children.
Community members, clergy, police officers and city officials, including District Attorney Larry Krasner and Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw, gathered for a prayer walk around the area that had been encircled by police tape just three nights prior.
As they walked, the group stopped several times to share prayers around memorials that have popped up in the last three days, and they called for an end to gun violence.
“The last few days, I've been kind of grieving because this mass shooting was so close to home. It's right around the corner from me,” said Ronald Leggett. He says he’s lived nearby for 22 years. He joined the crowd alongside his faith community.
“You feel what you feel, but you still pray for who needs to be prayed for. Which, we all need prayer,” said Leggett.
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A clergy member addressed the crowd as they walked, reminding people it’s okay to not be okay.
In a neighborhood still stunned by Monday’s shocking and random violence, the goal — to lift one another up — was understood and deeply felt by participants.
“I was home when it happened, and of course, your initial reaction is, ‘Not again,’” said Andrea Clarke, who lives near where the shooting happened. But she had the same message as others with her Thursday evening:
“One incident does not define your community. It’s still your community. It’s still the very good community that you’ve grown up in and lived in, so still hold onto that.”
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The walk ended at 56th Street and Chester Avenue, where Outlaw addressed the crowd.
“Our heart goes out to all of the families that were impacted, but to everyone — whether you own a business, whether you worship here, whether you have childcare here, whatever it is — you will forever be reminded of what happened here,” said Outlaw.
“We're still standing, and we will be here. We will not be forced into being afraid to live. We won't. Because this is our community.”
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