There are some things that Mayor Nutter gets really fired-up about and "senseless" violence is high on that list.
After a man allegedly shot and killed three teenage boys Tuesday night in Juniata Park who arrived in a car to beat up his stepsons, Nutter had a few choice words for the shooter, the victims' parents and their friends.
"So let's be really clear there's no reason, none for any 14 or 16 year-old to be out on a school night 10, 10:30, 11 at night, out without a parent or guardian under any set of circumstances and certainly not for this nonsense," Nutter said. "We can't completely legislate or by policy make people be responsible for their children."
Nutter said there is assistance for parents who are having issues with their children including human service programs.
"But the least you can do is to know where the hell your kids are at the daytime, at the nighttime or any other time during the week or on the weekends," Nutter said. "That's a minimum we should ask and expect from our parents. You want to have kids? Take care of them. Be responsible for them and know where they are at all times."
Nutter commended the Philadelphia Police Department for the quick arrest of Axel Barreto, the alleged gunman who had been arrested at least seven times in the last 12 years, including a 2004 case in which police confiscated a gun that he had no license to carry and an obliterated serial number.
"I'm very proud and appreciative that the Philadelphia Police Department and the U.S. Marshals were able to snatch that little asshole up last night within 24 hours of some of the most heinous egregious activity, we've seen in this city in recent times," Nutter said. "If you want to be an idiot, if you want to be an asshole, if you want to be a lowlife in this town, we will track you down like the dog that you are, catch you and you will be subject to every possible penalty that the laws allow."
Nutter warned against retaliation and urged the children to stay in school.
"Do not engage in any negative, retaliatory activity. It is bad, it is wrong; it's not going to work out well for any of you, if you get into that kind of activity. So cut it out," he said. "Go to school and stop this nonsense."
Nutter focused on tackling the issue of gun violence in this city. He told reporters in City Hall today that new gun initiatives will be announced shortly.