As festivals urge peace in Phila., homicide toll rises

On a day devoted to neighborhood festivals promoting peace and harmony, Philadelphia police reported four more homicides yesterday, bringing the year's total to 285.

Local civic leaders and antiviolence groups ended the summer with block parties and street fairs against the backdrop of a murderous season: Since the first of June, 117 people have been killed in the city.

"Unfortunately, we're in a national epidemic of violence," State Sen. Anthony Williams said yesterday after reviewing high-stepping drill teams and local bands at his annual Neighborhood-to-Neighborhood Street Festival in West Philadelphia. "We're trying to get people together, and speak to this generation in a way they can relate to, that we have to deal with this violence."

The latest victims, police said, were men slain in separate shootings within two hours early yesterday:

Jermaine Jackson, 26, of West Philadelphia, was found in the 3800 block of Haverford Avenue in the Mantua section shortly after 2:20 a.m., and was pronounced dead of multiple gunshot wounds at Hahnemann University Hospital.

Terrel Davis, 24, of Frankford, was shot in the head in an alley in the 3100 block of E Street in Kensington about 3 a.m.

Julious Pickett, 24, of Brewerytown, was shot in the face in the 2000 block of North 31st Street in Strawberry Mansion shortly before 3:10 a.m.

And shortly after 4:01 a.m., police found Walter Drivers, 27, of no known address, shot once in the head in the 6100 block of Callowhill Street in West Philadelphia.

No one was arrested, police said. There were no apparent motives, and the shootings did not appear connected, they said.

Michael Nutter, the Democratic nominee for mayor, said the latest shootings were part of "this surge of violence that represents a breakdown in community relations." He attended three block parties yesterday, and he said he hoped festivals could begin to restore a sense of security and neighborhood camaraderie.

Nutter joined Police Commissioner Sylvester Johnson and other leaders at the West Philadelphia street festival, which promoted neighborhood peace.

"Given what's been going on in the city, we have to remind people that we can be safe in our neighborhoods, that people do care," Nutter said. "We need to have more of these. They're community builders, and they provide a safe environment for our kids and our seniors."

Nutter said he was "tremendously hopeful" that the tide of violence could be stanched. He said aggressive actions to get illegal weapons and probation violators off the streets would help, as would more police walking neighborhood beats.

"And we have to totally revamp the social-services network to better help families who are struggling to raise their kids," he said.

Along with free hot dogs and hamburgers, and scheduled performances by rapper Mos Def and other musicians, the thousands who gathered at 50th Street and Baltimore Avenue received pitches from antiviolence advocates.

Ronald George, project manager of the city's violence-prevention initiative, passed out cards with phone numbers to call to report someone carrying a gun or other crimes. And he urged people to take a "put it down" pledge to not carry guns.

"Most of the killings are a result of arguments," George said. "When I was younger, arguments resulted in fistfights. Now they're using weapons because they're carrying them."

He said the city was working to get young people off the streets and into recreation programs or other activities.

Shannon Driggins, 23, a home health aide from North Philadelphia wearing a red "Peace Not Guns" T-shirt, said a festival like yesterday's was "a perfect opportunity to get people together without fighting."

Deshia Foster, 33, a youth worker in the Philadelphia Anti-Drug/Anti-Violence Network, said it was important for children in Philadelphia's poor neighborhoods to escape violence, even if just for a day.

"We take them to Dorney Park. We take them to church," she said. "They need to have positive influences."

"When people pull together," she added, "then there's hope for the future."

Yesterday's four homicides put the 2007 total 24 ahead of the 261 a year earlier. And the 117 since June 1 compared with 110 during the same period last year.

For a map showing homicides in Philadelphia

for 2006, and for articles about urban violence, visit http://go.philly.

com/violenceEndText