The holiday season in Philadelphia was disrupted by a devastating wave of gun violence over the weekend, with 11 separate shootings leaving 24 people injured, four of them fatally.
Mayor Cherelle Parker, joined by city officials, Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel, and District Attorney Larry Krasner, addressed the crisis Monday, urging for community action to restore peace.
“Every homicide victim was somebody’s son, brother, father, uncle, daughter, sister, mother, aunt,” Parker said. “These are human beings we are talking about.”
Timeline of Violence
- Friday Evening: Gunfire erupted at the Christmas Village in Dilworth Plaza, injuring three teenage boys—two 14-year-olds and one 15-year-old. One victim remains in critical condition.
- Later Friday Night: Two double shootings occurred in Northeast Philadelphia, also involving teens.
- Subsequent Shootings:
- A quintuple shooting inside a home claimed multiple lives.
- A triple shooting at a bar left one person dead.
- A double shooting on a city street added to the fatal toll.
Mayor Parker emphasized the importance of safety for all residents, stating, “The numbers don’t mean a damn thing. We will not rest until every resident in every neighborhood feels safe.”
Commissioner Bethel reinforced the city’s resolve: “This weekend does not define who we are as a city.”
Despite the weekend’s violence, officials noted that both shootings and homicides are down over 30% compared to last year, with 2024 on track to have the lowest homicide numbers in a decade.
Barbara Sanchez, an employee at Dilworth Park, described the chaos at the Christmas Village. “At first, it was just rowdy teenagers. Then we heard pop, pop, pop—four shots—and everyone started running. It was chaos.”
Officials remain committed to addressing the root causes of violence while continuing enforcement efforts. DA Larry Krasner assured residents that the recent violence would not deter their mission to make Philadelphia safer.