Police Continue To Investigate Playground Shooting In Strawberry Mansion
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - A family mourns the loss of a loved one after a shooting in the city's Strawberry Mansion neighborhood Sunday night.
"Now I don't have my husband, and my kids will never see their father again and that's painful," said Tanya Taylor.
Taylor lost her husband, 30-year-old Nyeme Taylor, to gun violence. Police say Nyeme was shot once in head Sunday night at Mander Park in Strawberry Mansion.
Taylor's wife says her husband was simply trying to protect their 14 year-old son Lamar.
"My husband was only out to help his family in the most respectable way he could handle it," said Taylor.
Police say Sunday night at about 9:30, the Taylor's son, Lamar, and about 200 other teenagers were hanging out at Mander Playground.
Five young men started a fight with the 14-year-old.
"He then went home and told his father," said Capt. James Clark. "The father returned back to the scene with his son and told the five young boys, my son will fight you, one at a time."
The five boys assaulted Lamar again. But this time, his father stepped in.
"The father tried to pull the boys off of his son," said Capt. Clark. "At that point one of the guys pulled out a gun and fired into the crowd."
Watch the video...
Three girls, ages 6, 10 and 15 were injured by the flying bullets. The 15 year-old girl, who's still in the hospital in stable condition, is the Taylor's daughter, Kianna.
"I also had to let my daughter know over the phone, about her father and that's the hardest thing for a mother to do," said Taylor.
Community activists and neighbors are outraged knowing two children are now fatherless and a wife is without her husband.
"It puts a cloud over the community," said Strawberry Mansion Athletic Association Director Derrick Ford.
If you have any information that could help homicide detectives call (215) 686-3334 and go to Phillypolice.com to see available video from other recent crimes.
Reported by Jericka Duncan, CBS 3
