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Playground Shooting Adds to Philly Murder Toll

Wednesday, June 27, 2007

OLNEY - June 27, 2007 (WPVI) -- A crowded playground became a shooting ground on Tuesday night leaving one person dead and three others wounded. The murder brings the toll to 199 for the year.

Police say around 6:00 p.m., two carloads of men pulled up to the playground and started arguing with a group playing ball.

A fistfight, apparently over a girl, quickly escalated into an exchange of gunfire.

The shooting happened next to the Olney Recreation Center at A and Spencer Streets. As many as 70 people, many of them children, may have been on the playground at the time, police said.

Two victims were found near the playground. An off-duty police officer passing by the scene was able to get tag numbers and police found two more victims at Albert Einstein Medical Center, along with several men who drove them there.

At least three men were taken into custody and being questioned. Police believe this shooting may be gang related.

The unidentified victim is officially the 199th person murdered in Philadelphia this year.

Police reported Wednesday that the murder toll is 199 as opposed to 201 due to their assessment that two of the killings were "justifiable".

On March 6th a group of men tried to rob a 16-year-old on East Johnston Street and the 16-year-old stabbed one of the robbers. The alleged robber was identified as Specer Edwards, who later died at the hospital.

Then on April 26th Jamar Jackson attempted to rob an 18-year-old. The teen fought back and Jackson's gun discharged during the struggle, killing Jackson. That was what was thought of as 133.

Philadelphia Police Commissioner Sylvester Johnson blames lax gun laws, poverty, unemployment and witnesses who refuse to come forward and talk to police. He said neither he nor the mayor should be held responsible.

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