PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Neighbors said they are “living in fear” since Monday’s deadly mass shooting in Grays Ferry. At a tense town hall meeting Thursday evening, they called on the city to do more to end gun violence.
More than 50 people packed into the basement of a community center just a block away from where Monday morning’s mass shooting left three people dead and nine others injured. The victims ranged in age from 15 to 24.
Parents, residents and community leaders agreed that everyone in the community must play a role in preventing such violence, including police, community organizations, elected officials, and parents and guardians.
“[Teens] need more productive things to do,” said Kim Smith, a parent from Point Breeze. “They need more guidance. They need more education. They need more resources. They need more positive role models.”
Tyrique Glasgow does all he can to help through his anti-gun violence organization, the Young Chances Foundation. In addition to things like libraries, rec centers, adult education programs, and fresh, healthy food, he said individuals in the community need tailored support.
“I look at gun violence like doctors look at their patients. They have their own issues … and way that the medicine responds to their bodies. There needs to be a system that really targets individuals and helps that whole household,” he said.
“We need libraries in our community. We need adult programming and therapeutic services. Plant a seed and follow through with it. A lot of promises have been coming through in our community; they haven’t been kept.”
Around 1 a.m. Monday at South Etting and Dickinson streets, 19-year-old Jason Reese, 23-year-old Zahir Wylie, and 24-year-old Azir Harris were killed and nine others were injured when a gunfight broke out. Police have not made any arrests.