Philadelphia sees frequent shootings, American Independence Day holiday becomes a "blood weekend"
In the recent American Independence Day long weekend, Philadelphia experienced multiple gun violence incidents, resulting in at least 6 deaths and 31 injuries.
Around 1:00 am on July 7, the most severe shooting incident of the week occurred in the Grays Ferry community in southern Philadelphia. The shooter opened fire on a crowd at the intersection of Etting and Dickinson streets, firing over 100 bullets, according to witnesses, which resulted in 3 deaths and 10 injuries. Police said the victims were between the ages of 19 and 24, and among the injured were two minors. The sudden attack shocked the entire community, and the police described it as a "cowardly random shooting." A suspect carrying a weapon has been detained, and the case is still under investigation.
Two days earlier, on the early morning of July 5, a large-scale shooting also occurred outside a nightclub called "7 Elements" in southern Philadelphia. A dispute in the parking lot escalated into a violent conflict, causing 8 people to be injured, with victims ranging from 25 to 43 years old. The police stated that the cause of the shooting was a dispute and a knife fight, followed by gunfire.
Additionally, on the early morning of July 6, gunshots were heard at a large gathering near 22nd Street and Edgley Street in northern Philadelphia, where at least 27 bullets were found at the scene, resulting in 3 injuries, including a minor.
Within just three days, the city had at least 11 gun violence incidents, almost spread across both north and south areas, and many cases occurred in the early hours and public spaces where teenagers gathered. The city police department said that most of the shooters have not been caught yet, and they urge residents to actively provide clues to assist in the investigation.
According to statistics from "NBC Philadelphia," more than 160 people in Philadelphia have died from gun violence in 2024, and the proportion of underage victims continues to rise.
Police and community leaders have strongly condemned the violent incidents and called for enhanced supervision of teenagers and control of illegal gun circulation.
A police spokesperson said, "This is not the festive atmosphere a normal society should have. We must make changes." The Philadelphia government is intensifying the deployment of emergency response and security maintenance mechanisms, but public doubts about the city's governance capabilities are also increasing.
Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1837006827840648/
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