The gun violence crisis in Philadelphia continued throughout the holiday weekend as at least 15 separate shootings ravaged our area. NBC10’s Aaron Baskerville has more on two of the latest victims – a father and his nine-year-old son, shot and killed on their way home from a cookout.
A father and his young son died in a drive-by shooting Sunday night in Philadelphia's Wissinoming section.
The child was just 9 years old, police said, coming home from a cookout with his father.
His mother identified him as 9-year-old Jamel Parks. She said her husband, the child's dad, is 37-year-old Gerald "Jerry" Parks.
"My brother was only nine years old," Jamel's brother said at a vigil for the two on Monday. "He had so much life to live -- he was so full of life. So much passion.
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"So much ... so much I still had to teach him."
The shooting happened on Carver Street around 10:30 p.m. Sunday.
Philadelphia Police Inspector D.F. Pace said the father and son had just arrived home and were sitting in the parked car when at least two gunmen inside of a dark-colored SUV drove up and opened fire.
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Both the father and boy were hit multiple times, Pace said. They were taken to nearby hospitals where they died.
Police believe the father may have been targeted, but they're still investigating why.
“Always had you laughing, jokes every five minutes, dancing everywhere…” Vanessa Frame said of her husband. “He wasn’t the type to get into stuff like this so I’m just confused who would do it because he’s not that type of person."
Frame described Jamel as an outgoing, creative, fun-loving brother to two siblings who loved to give hugs.
The family has started a GoFundMe page asking for anyone who can help during this difficult time.
"So much loss in this city and it never crossed my mind it would be mine," Frame wrote.
As of Monday morning, there were at least 206 homicides in Philadelphia this year, down 7% from the same time last year which was ultimately the deadliest in the city on record.
There are additional resources for people or communities that have endured gun violence in Philadelphia. Further information can be found here.
