Colwin Williams News Today

West Philly residents mark MLK Day by pleading for end to gun violence WPVI UP NEXT In West Philadelphia on Monday night, residents marked Martin Luther King Jr. Day by pleading for an end to gun violence. Mikell Stokes has been touched by gun violence twice. First, her son Gerald Campbell, and most recently her wife, Melanie Raye in 2020. She joined a dozen of other mothers on the 200 block of Simpson Street on Monday, all of whom have lost children to gun violence. Theyre mis...

WHYY By Sharon James lost her son John Heggie III, 30, 2 years ago to the day to gun violence. (Kimberly Paynter/WHYY) For Sharon James, it feels like the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday carries more weight in Philadelphia this year, especially as homicides in the city reached a 30-year high — claiming 499 victims — and young people find themselves increasingly caught in the crossfire. She remembers King’s birthday growing up in North Philly as a day of unity and service for whole communit...

The Monday afternoon event will take place on North Simpson Street in West Philadelphia, where 7-year-old Zamar Jones was killed last August.

The department’s homicide clearance rate dropped significantly last year. Police say shooters wearing face masks is a big reason why.

Melany Nelson is still frustrated by what happened last fall. During a preliminary hearing in October, one of her clients at Northwest Victim Services testified against the man accused of shooting him more than seven times. As he recounted the events that landed him in the hospital, Nelson said court staff caught the suspect’s girlfriend trying to take a photo of him with her cell phone. The woman was also using her phone to record the man’s testimony, said Nelson, executive director of the...

We have our own pandemic: Local anti-violence leader frustrated as Philadelphia nears 500 homicides on the year WPVI This includes the struggle to solve these homicides, along with the challenges posed amid the COVID-19 pandemic. "I dont want blood on anyones hands, to go retaliate. I myself have already forgiven," said Emmanuel Kitchen, speaking to those who gathered outside his home on Wednesday night. . His daughter, 24-year-old Ebony Kitchen, was killed earlier in the week. She worked for T...