Last Updated on June 6, 2022
The City of Philadelphia suffered another violent weekend as 36 people were shot, five of them fatally. Philadelphia has now recorded 218 homicides on the year as violent crime has trended back towards 2021 levels in recent weeks. The City of Brotherly Love — which has the highest murder rate among America’s ten largest cities — recorded a record-high 559 murders in 2021.
Over this past weekend in Philadelphia: 36 people were shot since Friday night, which includes the South St shooting. The gunfire was ALL over the city: West Philly, Port Richmond, Point Breeze, Frankford, Kingsessing, Strawberry Mansion, Olney, North Philly @KYWNewsradio pic.twitter.com/hQXZG35IL8
— Kristen Johanson (KJ) (@KristenJohanson) June 6, 2022
A single incident on South Street — a very busy location on weekends — left three dead and fourteen wounded. According to law enforcement, at least three gunmen were responsible for firing the shots that left two men and a woman dead.
The South Street shooting appears to have been the result of a dispute between at least two armed individuals. A mobile phone video of the initial dispute shows a man armed with a handgun involved in a fight with another man. As the armed man and his associate had another individual pinned, several shots can be heard in rapid succession.
A number of videos captured the chaos of the large crowd fleeing the scene.
BREAKING: Video of last night’s shooting on South Street in Philadelphia pic.twitter.com/6aJ5AXpn9c
— GTA Senator Poso (@JackPosobiec) June 5, 2022
Surveillance video from a local business shows pandemonium after shots ring out near South & 3rd streets in Philadelphia last night just before midnight. pic.twitter.com/XLqGWEXAu1
— Marcus Espinoza (@MarcusFOX29) June 5, 2022
The South Street shooting — which fits the definition of a mass shooting since it resulted in four or more victims — accounted for the most casualties in a single incident. An additional 24 people were shot in a number of separate incidents across the city, however.
Soros-linked Philadelphia District Attorney used the South Street shooting to rail against the NRA and call for gun control. “The terrible crimes last night on South Street tell our Pennsylvania legislators it’s time for real action,” Krasner wrote in a tweet. “Boycott NRA lobbyists, boycott NRA donations, and bring real common sense gun regulation to Pennsylvania. Now.”
Krasner has shown no urgency in enforcing laws that are already on the books, however, as the bulk of Philadelphia gun crime is committed by repeat offenders with illegally obtained handguns. Under his “bail reform” policies, a number of criminals with lengthy rap sheets have committed homicides when they would otherwise be in prison.
In one high-profile example, Latif Williams, 17, shot and killed Temple student Samuel Collington during an attempted robbery. Williams had been arrested a number of times and charged with gun crimes and carjacking, but the charges were dismissed by Krasner’s office.
After being arrested for carrying an illegally obtained handgun, Williams was released without bail just months before killing the Temple student.
Under Larry Krasner’s tenure, Philadelphia has secured convictions in less than 50% of gun cases.
The terrible crimes last night on South Street tell our Pennsylvania legislators it’s time for real action. Boycott NRA lobbyists, boycott NRA donations, and bring real common sense gun regulation to Pennsylvania. Now.
— DA Larry Krasner (@DA_LarryKrasner) June 5, 2022
More than 200 people have been fatally shot in Philadelphia in 2022. Murder was down roughly 10% when compared with last year throughout much of 2022. The last two weeks have seen that number shrink to just 4%, however.
The city is likely to record more than 500 murders for the second time in as many years.
