Philadelphia Police Commissioner Richard Ross Addresses Alarming Homicide Rate With Activists
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PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — Standing side-by-side outside of a West Philadelphia barbershop community activists and Philadelphia Police Commissioner Richard Ross announced plans of a weekend peace walk to address the homicide rate.
Now at 333, it's the highest it's been in more than a decade.
"It's not just the person that you kill, you're affecting many many many more people than just them," said Stanley Crawford.
Crawford's son was one of this year's homicide victims.
"My son William Crawford in Sept. 8 at 9 a.m., while he was visiting his sister in the northeast, he was shot in the head twice and in the chest once," said Crawford.
Crawford became an activist to stop others from losing their loved ones.
A similar path taken by Movita Johnson-Harrell.
"We have to protect our children. No mother should have to bury her child. Jan. 13 will be eight years that my son was murdered in a case of mistaken identity in Philadelphia," said Movita Johnson-Harrell.
She gave an emotional testimony during a gun safety press conference at the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office.
"Our office for the first time in the history of the Philadelphia DA's office hired a criminologist when we first got in here, a professor and he has us in touch on a regular basis with various other criminologists studies, foundations, that are working actively around these issues," said Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner.
As for the activists pushing for peace--they're encouraging others to do the same.
"Turn in a gun to police, organize a town watch, start a business," said Bilal Qayyum with Father's Day Rally Committee Inc.
"They're out here on the ground. Their hearts are pure and they're trying to make a difference," said Ross.
