On Monday, September 12, 2022, a 14-year-old teenager was charged with murder in connection with a shooting that left an employee of the Mill Creek Recreation Center, Philadelphia dead, officials confirmed.
According to Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw, 40-year-old Tiffany Fletcher was working at the Mill Creek Recreation Center in Philadelphia. Unfortunately, she was caught in the crossfire during a shootout that involved a teenager and other unidentified people.
Speaking at a conference on Monday, District Attorney Larry Kushner told the press that the boy would be charged with murder and other related offenses as an adult. However, the case might end up in juvenile court depending on the judge’s decision.
Police heard the gunshots on Friday at around 1:30 p.m. As they responded to the scene, they saw people running away, pointing to the suspect. Commissioner Outlaw said that one officer managed to arrest the boy and recovered a 9 mm gun in a nearby trash can.
After being shot, Fletcher sought help from a nearby store where she received some first aid from the workers. When the officers arrived at the scene, they transported her to a nearby hospital, where she succumbed to her wounds a few hours later that evening.
While searching the area, police recovered 12 fired shell casings. The motive for the shootout is still unclear to authorities, and the other suspects involved are still at large.
Fletcher started working as a pool maintenance attendant in the park during the spring, when the city faced a staffing shortage. After the summer season ended, she agreed to continue working at the Mill Creek Recreational Center, which was less than two blocks from her home.
While eulogizing the deceased, Kathryn Ott Lovell, Philadelphia Parks and Recreation Commissioner, called Ms. Fletcher a hero and praised her commitment to serving her community. She said that parks and recreation centers should be safe havens for community members.
District Attorney Krasner said during the press conference that gun violence has been on the rise in Philadelphia, with the city experiencing 11 homicides in just one week, between September 3rd and 9th. The city has already recorded 384 homicides this year, a 4% increase from the same time last year.
According to District Attorney Krasner and Jim Kenney, the mayor of Philadelphia, the surge in gun violence is extremely disheartening, and the fact that it is affecting children is horrible, outrageous, and unacceptable.
Mayor Kenney blames state gun laws for the upsurge in gun violence and for the fact that a 14-year-old child has access to guns. He also highlighted that in an attempt to enforce stricter gun laws, Philadelphia is suing the State of Pennsylvania because of the Pennsylvania preemption law.
The City of Philadelphia has a $10,000 reward for any information that will lead to a conviction or arrest of anyone who fires a gun within 500 meters of a learning institution, library, or recreational center.