Teen, grandson, neighbor among victims of violent Philadelphia weekend
PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- A violent weekend in Philadelphia has several communities on edge.
At 11:30 p.m. Sunday, a 15-year-old boy was shot multiples in Lawncrest on Cheltenham Avenue near Alcott Street. He is hospitalized in critical condition.
Witnesses say bullets were flying everywhere.
"My neighbor's cars got hit. Two of my other neighbors' cars got hit and the lightpost," Angelina Williams of Lawncrest said.
In Frankford, police say a man told them he shot his next door neighbor after an argument on the 4700 block of James Street.
Police say the neighbor and the neighbor's girlfriend were both shot in the head. The neighbor was killed and his girlfriend is clinging to life.
Candles now sit on the porch of the home.
In South Philadelphia, on the 1000 block of 4th Street, a 42-year-old man was shot and killed at the Riverview Apartments.
Not far away, on the corner of Fitzwater and 21st, 30 rounds were fired in a shooting that cost the life of Constance Arthur's grandson, 28-year-old Kristian Hamilton-Arthur.
"One of the neighbors from 22nd and Fitzwater came around and told me that he had been shot. I thought I was dreaming," Constance Arthur said.
Kristian's uncle tells Action News his nephew loved family.
"My grandniece, they had a date every Friday, he would take her out every Friday," Kristian's uncle said.
The family begs for the violence in the city to stop.
"Love one another. Learn to have a conversation," Constance Arthur said.
According to the Philadelphia police website, the homicide rate this year is up 20 percent compared to this time last year.
"We're going to continue to work hard at this police department," Philadelphia Police Commissioner Richard Ross said.
Ross points out overall crime rates are falling.
"The rest of our crime numbers are down which is another anomaly and makes you scratch your head," Ross said.
Ross also says they've taken steps the department never has before to help those at risk.
"We are doing things that we don't normally do which is diverting young people who are arrested for minor crimes so we can keep them out of the system," Ross said.
Police are asking anyone who knows anything about the shootings to give them a call.
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