It was another chaotic weekend for American cities as the crime crisis continues to be a major issue. This is what happened in a few of the country's biggest cities over the weekend.
Philadelphia: The biggest news to come out of Philadelphia is when young people looted and damaged a WaWa store in the city's northeast side. In addition to people ransacking the store, large groups were engaged in fighting each other in the parking lot.
A large group of criminals ransacked a WaWa store tonight in Philadelphia pic.twitter.com/bviiexZJR2
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) September 25, 2022
Beyond the breakdown of law and order at the WaWa, a two-year-old was shot twice in the back. In total, at least 20 people were shot during the first weekend of fall, with four deaths, according to Fox 29.
#BREAKING: Police say a 2-year-old boy is in critical condition after being shot twice in right side of his back. Happened around 8:30 in 2200 block of N 20th St in North Philly. No arrests or weapon recovered. Details surrounding shooting unknown at this time. @CBSPhiladelphia pic.twitter.com/OL0bl02bKW
— Ryan Hughes (@HughesCBS3) September 25, 2022
Chicago: The Chicago Sun-Times reports almost 40 people were shot this weekend, seven were killed. One incident involved a 13-year-old boy walking on a sidewalk with a friend about 8:35 p.m. Friday when someone in a black SUV opened fire. He was shot in the ankle and was listed in good condition.
There was an attempted kidnapping on the 200 block of S Sangamon in the West Loop. A witness heard a woman screaming as she was being pulled into a maroon van. An Uber driver and a woman intervened.
— 16th & 17th District Chicago Police Scanner (@CPD1617Scanner) September 25, 2022
A witness took the victim in after the incident. pic.twitter.com/NSCbHTNWae
Harlem/Grace: a call of 4 shots fired #ChicagoScanner
— 16th & 17th District Chicago Police Scanner (@CPD1617Scanner) September 26, 2022
New Orleans: The New Orleans Police Department announced they are hiring civilians to respond to handle calls and certain crimes in order free up uniformed officers to patrol for more serious crimes, according to Fox News.
"As we take calls over the phone, there may be some evidence that needs to be collected with that call. We’ll have civilian investigators to go out and collect that evidence instead of an officer having to go out there and collect that evidence," said New Orleans Police Superintendent Shaun Ferguson on Thursday.
The New Orleans Police Department had 150 officers leave the force as the city is now the murder capital of the country, recording 52 homicides per 100,000 residents.
19-year-old gunned down in New Orleans double shooting https://t.co/Cm9VoXxFDQ
— wdsu (@wdsu) September 24, 2022