The year is just about halfway finished, but the city of Philadelphia has already surpassed a five-year high in homicides, marking a 21% increase over the total killed in 2016. With five months left to go, 2017 is on pace to become the most deadly year in Philadelphia since 2007. Most of these homicides were the result of gun violence, and as we enter the dog days of summer, Philadelphia authorities are reporting a significant spike in shootings and gun-fueled crime sprees.
Reported July Shootings
On July 18th, two shootings broke out in broad daylight, leaving one woman dead and another critically wounded. The previous day, a man barricaded himself in against police after fatally shooting his victim in the streets of West Philadelphia.
On July 16th, seven separate shootings broke out across the city, leaving four dead and several others injured. This comes on the heels of the brutal shotgun murder of four men in the Philadelphia suburbs the week before, and a string of shootings that terrorized Germantown in the early days of July.
Between the 15th and 18th of July, at least eleven shootings were reported in Philadelphia, resulting in four deaths and ten injuries. Even in a city where, since 2006, one person has been shot every six hours, this latest crime wave strikes authorities as anomalous and distressing.
Summer Linked To Homicide Increase
The bad news is that the summer isn’t over yet. Studies show that, in the United States, homicides increase by 2.6% with the summer heat. Because gun crime tends to fuel itself, an especially violent winter and spring is likely to translate into an even more dangerous July and August.
From Center City to Germantown, from West Philly to the suburbs, urban gun crime in the City of Brotherly Love is as widespread as it is unpredictable. Even if you don’t live in a dangerous neighborhood, even if you live a squeaky-clean suburban life, it’s easy to wind up at the wrong place at the wrong time and find yourself caught in the crossfire. When a crime wave sweeps across the city, it is vital to stay vigilant and, to know your rights as a victim if the unthinkable happens.
Injured In A Shooting Crime
If you are the victim of a gun crime, you deserve justice. That said, the road to justice is often a long and troublesome journey. Because the legal process can be complicated and exhausting, it is important to seek legal counsel so that you receive proper representation, protection, and compensation. Victims of a shooting may be asked to testify under oath in order to assist prosecutors in convicting the perpetrator. To this end, you need an attorney who will ensure that your safety and security are kept firmly in mind. As a gun crime victim, you may be entitled to monetary damages in civil court, and an experienced lawyer is instrumental in helping you receive the compensation you deserve.
Keep in mind that perpetrators of gun crimes are entitled to a defense. A well-paid defense attorney is willing to defend even the guiltiest of criminals. This means that, even if you are clearly the victim, the defendant’s legal team may try to attack your reputation in order to protect their client. Modern defense attorneys will stop at nothing to make a victim seem uncertain, unreliable, or even criminal. For that reason, a knowledgeable gun crime attorney is vital in making sure that your suffering stops the moment you’ve recovered from your injuries. A skilled crime victim lawyer will work on your behalf to help you win justice and move on with your life. As a violent summer in Philadelphia winds to a close, bear in mind that your best defense against the consequences that follow a gun crime is a strong legal defense.
