PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — On March 12, 2023, a 76-year-old man was threatened with a gun during a dispute over a parking space.
Officials say when John Mosley parked outside a laundromat in the city’s East Parkside section to wash his clothes, 34-year-old Yousef Purdie parked his car a few feet away and approached Mosley’s car before demanding he leave the space. Mosley refused, and that’s when Purdie pulled out a gun.
Purdie was convicted of possessing a prohibited firearm and sentenced to four to eight years in prison.
“No grandfather, grandmother, Nana, Gigi, or other senior citizens, after working their entire life, should then have to suffer the horrific trauma of becoming a victim of crime,” said District Attorney’s Office First Assistant Robert Listenbee.
Mosley served in the Vietnam War and the Dominican Republic during their civil war in the 1960s. The incident shook up the lifelong Philadelphia resident.
“My mind is going, this is a parking space. I've seen other incidents, though, where people have been shot, and I have a background in conflict resolution. So I said, I'm just going to talk calm, but I'm not backing up,” Mosley said.
Assistant District Attorney Gilliam Dagress with the Elder Justice Unit says many crimes against older adults are underreported.
To help crack down on crime against such a vulnerable population, the city’s District Attorney’s Office has opened the application process for a new round of violence prevention grants for nonprofit organizations that provide support to older victims.
Interested organizations can contact the Philadelphia Foundation at GrantMakingServices@philafound.org. Applications are open through Dec. 27.