As of Thursday, the Philadelphia Police Department recorded 63 people murdered so far this year, a 50% increase compared to the same time in 2020, the deadliest in three decades.
Non-fatal shootings are up nearly 80% compared to this time in 2020. At least 180 people, mostly Black men, have been shot in 2021 compared to 101 at this time last year, according to police.
At this rate, Philadelphia could set new records for shootings and homicides, a grim prospect for a city still reeling from the unrelenting gun violence that made last year one of the most violent in history in the midst of a global pandemic.
Dr. Ruth Abaya, the injury prevention program manager with the city’s health department, said she is optimistic shootings and homicides will begin to decrease as the city moves closer to herd immunity, and starts to recover from the economic and societal impacts of the pandemic, including high unemployment.
“I don’t know if it will be an immediate effect,” she said. “I think there will probably be a delayed response. But I’m incredibly hopeful that we will see this turn around as we turn the pandemic around and really start to address the underlying drivers.”
WHYY’s Thomas Mintesnot contributed reporting.
WHYY is one of over 20 news organizations producing Broke in Philly, a collaborative reporting project on solutions to poverty and the city’s push towards economic justice. Follow us at @BrokeInPhilly.