Community Demanding Answers After Shooting Leaves 3 Kids Injured In West Philly
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PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – A community is demanding answers and justice after a triple shooting leaves three children injured on Sunday night. The triple shooting happened shortly before 8 p.m. in the area of 60th and Ludlow Streets.
A 16-year-old boy was shot in the foot and a 15-year-old boy was shot in the hip. A stray bullet also went through the wall of a home and hit an 8-year-old boy in the face. A vehicle in the area was also hit by stray bullets.
Philadelphia Police Commissioner Richard Ross told Eyewitness News, threats on social media may have led to the violence.
"Social media certainly doesn't make it any better," said Ross. "It's just a vehicle that sometimes they use to threaten each other, and there were times when you had to at least lay eyes on someone to do that, but now you don't even have to do that. Now, it's just a matter of getting on a computer or your smartphone, and start hurling some threats at each other. Sadly, a lot of these young people act on it and that's what is very frustrating."
At last check, the 15-year-old was listed in critical condition.
Residents packed a room inside the Anointed Tabernacle Of Praise in West Philly on Tuesday night. They want change. They want the violence to end.
State representative Joanna McClinton organized the meeting. Her district office is near the 8-year-old's home.
"This has been a continuing fight between youth in the area, anywhere from as young as 12 to as old as 20," she said.
Emotions ran high as residents expressed their concerns.
"My son got shot five times. Once in the chest, two in the back one in the arm. My baby boy got shot in the neck. He couldn't move for six months!" said one resident.
One homeowner believed the root of the problem starts with poverty.
"I see it. I'm hiring little boys to do little things. $20, $30 because they're broke! They don't have no resources their parents are broke!" the resident said.
But the conversation can't stop here residents say they need to see action.
"If you see something say something, but also we know who's got the guns. Get them out of your community!"
