Top Philadelphia Police Brass Decry Weekend of Violent Street Crimes
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - As Philadelphia and the country marked the tenth anniversary of 9/11 and stood guard for new terror threats, it was a weekend of bloody, urban terror in Philadelphia.
There were seven homicides and 22 shootings (see related story). The victims included a 58-year-old man shot in the head by a stray bullet as he walked down the street.
Deputy police commissioner Richard Ross (below right) says these crimes, and this reckless violence, are a grave concern.
"People seem to just pull out a gun to just instinctively, impulsively, and shoot at other people without any regard for even who else is around," Ross said today. "I mean, it is astonishing -- it's astounding to me. It just makes me shake my head. And I can't explain it. I am sure there are people who are lot smarter that I am who could make a guess, but I can't do it. I can only tell you that we work very hard to make this a better place."
And, Ross said today, that means additional police in known trouble spots to try to prevent violent crime, and committing to catch those who engage in this violent activity.
But he concedes they need the public's help as most of these cases now are unsolved.
Reported by Tony Hanson, KYW Newsradio 1060
