Philadelphians seek peace after week of violence

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Philadelphia police are acknowledging the city has had a particularly violent week this week.

As investigators work to make arrests, community members are hoping to promote peace.

Last Saturday, a woman was found bloody, dead on the 2400 block of Jasper Street.

Police have identified the victim as 35-year-old Rickie Morgan.

On Thursday night, a 21-year-old man was shot and killed on Locust Street.

So far this week, Action News has reported on a total of seven homicides, in what no doubt has been an extremely tragic week for violence.

"You don't want to see any homicides, but to see multiple in a week is definitely something you don't want to see at anytime," said Philadelphia Police Lt. John Stanford.

So what's the cause?

According to Stanford there's many reasons, but non bigger than, "there's too many guns on the street in terms of people are shooting at each other, killing each other over things that don't really make sense," said Stanford.

Though he wants the city to know there's just six more homicides this year compared to last. And less violent crimes are down overall.

"Robberies, rapes, burglaries, theft of autos, things like that, those are all down," said Stanford.

A memorial service in Kensington celebrated Rickie Morgan's life on Friday.

"No one deserves to die the way she did," said Carolyn Koschak, Morgan's Friend.

In her honor, they ask for the violence to stop and, during this week, show the country the meaning of peace.

"When violence happens so often, it can become a norm," said Kathryn Horan, The Woman's Center. "When people feel unsafe, that's not OK."