Philadelphia Labor Day weekend shootings leave 10 dead, 23 injured
"I never thought about what I was moving into because I remember what I moved away from. It was good," said Deneen Hughes.
PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Philadelphia police are investigating more than 20 shooting incidents that took place over the holiday weekend in Philadelphia.
Since Friday, 33 people were shot. Ten of those victims died from their injuries.
"The crime and violence are getting worse everywhere; Philly though seems to be a little over the top," said Kingsessing resident Deneen Hughes.
This violence not only impacts victims and families but people who have lived here and who've watched this crime continue to worsen.
SEE ALSO: 2 dead after shooting in Hunting Park section of Philadelphia, 4 others injured
Hughes moved away from Philadelphia for 30 years, but the pandemic and family brought her home. She's back living in the same home she lived as a child.
"I never thought about what I was moving into because I remember what I moved away from. It was good," said Hughes. "It's a drastic and big change. Big change from 30 years ago."
In the past three days, her Kingsessing neighborhood has seen three shootings, one of which was fatal.
In the city's Hunting Park section, two people were killed and four others were wounded in a shooting early Monday morning.
On Sunday, police say a man was gunned down after an argument in a restaurant drive-thru lane.
In a tweet, Mayor Jim Kenney called the violence "devastating and unacceptable."
"The amount of violent incidents over this holiday weekend is devastating and unacceptable. Philadelphians deserve to be safe in their communities. My deepest sympathies go out to all those affected by this senseless violence, especially families that have lost loved ones," the tweet said.
Philadelphia's homicide count for 2022 now stands at 368.
Around this time last year, 361 homicides were recorded. And at this point in 2020, 309 people were killed.
SEE ALSO: Police: 19-year-old shot dead after argument in restaurant drive-thru lane
In response to the weekend violence, the nonprofit City of Dreams Coalition announced plans to go door-to-door on September 21 in an effort to reach people and stop the violence.
"I'm scared to come out of my home, we all are. When I come out, I have to look around. I'm noticing when you hear a noise, you start to get scared. Who wants to live like that?" Sister Taleah Taylor, president of the City of Dreams Coalition, said.
Hughes encourages people to get involved in their communities. She's active in her sorority that participates in various outreach efforts around the city.
"I think if we lose hope, it's over," said Hughes. "I do have hope that things can get better, but some things have to happen. Hope is not an end result, it's not an action plan."
