Posted on 06/15/2006 2:05:33 PM PDT by new cruelty
The latest shooting victim in Philadelphia is a little girl too young to truly appreciate what a gun is.
Police said the girl, 4, whose name was not released, was wounded in a shoot-out around 7:15 p.m. on the 2100 block of Sigel Street in South Philadelphia - a narrow street just south of Point Breeze that neighbors said is often saturated with youngsters playing outdoors.
The child was in critical condition last night at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia with a gunshot wound to her left femur.
"What threshold do we have to hit before people start to realize how serious this is?" asked an outraged Capt. Kevin Bethel of the 17th Police District.
Bethel said the shooting was reported after the girl collapsed in the street in front of a rowhouse where she and her mother had been visiting. At the time, the girl - identified by neighbors as Nashay Little - was outside playing with other children.
Once police arrived, they picked her up from the street and rushed her to Children's Hospital, along with her mother.
Bethel said that he was unsure how many people participated in the shooting. Police said at least two men were seen running east on Sigel, apparently chasing someone and shooting at him. That person fired back, police said. The girl was hit by a stray bullet.
Neighbors last night stood outside or on their steps, looked at the crime-scene tape, and expressed anger that someone would open fire on a block full of children.
"They should have known better than to shoot on this block with all these kids," Audrey Myers said.
Myers said she was in her house when the shots rang out and ran to her kitchen when she heard the noise.
"One shot is too many, but there were a lot more," she said.
Just before nightfall, one of the girl's shoes still lay in the middle of the street, along with several dozen shell casings being examined by police.
Bethel said that, as has been customary in most shooting crimes, witnesses have been tight-lipped in identifying the suspects.
He said he believed the shooters were seen because the block was full of people and it was still light.
Bethel said he hoped someone would come forward to identify the shooters and asked anyone with information to call police at the 17th District at 215-686-3013.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Police are seeking the public's help in the shooting of a small child who was struck on a South Philadelphia street full of children.
Police officials sounded weary of the silence they encounter when they try to hunt up witnesses in some cases.
"If we can't get members of this community to step forward and come to the assistance of a 4-year-old girl, then we may as well hang it up," Chief of Detectives Joseph Fox said Wednesday at a news conference, referring to the shooting of Nashay Little, who was struck in the femur.
But Khalif Little, an uncle, said he understood the reluctance of potential witnesses.
"It's not bothering me so much that people are not coming forward, because the times we live in are crazy," Khalif Little told The Philadelphia Inquirer at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. "As soon as you snitch, you're going to die. So it's hard to step up to the plate and say this happened."
This from the city of brotherly love, where, as mayor street would say, the brothers and sisters are in charge.
After reading your thread, I thought you might be interested in this story. It may have been posted already, though I have not seen it on FR.
And the media's having a cow about security in Baghdad....
Gang banging druggies?
I can appreciate how these people feel, but this situation is a downward spiral that will not change for the better unless they and the city take bolder action.
This is NOT important. What IS important is that the Philly moonbats get the owner of the steak and cheese eatery to TAKE DOWN THAT INSULTING SIGN ASKING PEOPLE TO ORDER IN ENGLISH.
misunderstood yutes, no doubt.
YEAH, and secure the borders already!!
Note to Philly: Folks in Iraq risked their lives to vote.
Actually, it is sad to think, but by her age, prior to this incident, she may have already known of both.
Then die in silence.
Is the MSM going to ask the President when the violence in Philadelphia is going to end.
As opposed to opening fire on some other city block? This quote says a lot.
LOL. I won't hold my breath while I wait.
well, boys will be boys.
To suggest that other killings are unimportant, only when it's a baby should people get serious about crime in Filthydelphia?
Doubtful any D.C. neighborhood is secure.
It sounds to me like black on black gang related. If true, Jesse should spend time there instead of extorting money from BP.
Only? No, of course not. The implication is that a baby is helpless. And if people are not willing to step forward to help a baby, then what hope is there for the rest of us.
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