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Philadelphia police release more details on Wednesday’s shooting, what happens next | Morning Newsletter

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Philadelphia crime scene officer wearing a hazmat suit holds a crossbow that was removed from the scene on the 3700 block of N. 15th Street in Philadelphia, Pa. on Aug. 15, 2019.
Philadelphia crime scene officer wearing a hazmat suit holds a crossbow that was removed from the scene on the 3700 block of N. 15th Street in Philadelphia, Pa. on Aug. 15, 2019.Read moreDAVID MAIALETTI / Staff Photographer
    by Ray Boyd
    Published 

    The Morning Newsletter

    Start your day with the Philly news you need and the stories you want all in one easy-to-read newsletter

The shockwaves that reverberated throughout the city after six police officers were shot in North Philadelphia continued to be felt throughout the day on Thursday. Law enforcement officials, lawyers, politicians, and neighbors all shared their perspectives of the standoff and made their calls for what should happen next. And on Thursday afternoon, just two miles away on the same street, five more people were shot — a reality that Police Commissioner Richard Ross could barely process a mere 24 hours removed from Wednesday’s chaos.

— Ray Boyd (@RayBoydDigital, morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

Philly police shooting suspect likely used AR-15 rifle, could face life in prison, officials say

Prosecutors pledged Thursday to send the gunman who shot six Philadelphia police officers to prison for life, as new details emerged about Wednesday’s standoff in North Philly. Officials said that the suspect, Maurice Hill, likely used an AR-15 rifle to fire on officers during the ordeal.

District Attorney Larry Krasner said Hill, 36, will be charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault, and other crimes, and could spend the rest of his life in prison.

Neighbors nervously gathered on the streets Thursday morning. They communed, counted bullet holes, and finally exhaled. The incident altered the story of the neighborhood forever.

Several lawmakers came together on Thursday as well — renewing their calls to pass new gun-control measures at the state and federal levels. Among those voices was Gov. Tom Wolf, who is poised to take an action that will allow him to make several “sweeping changes” when it comes to guns.

Basement apartments’ rise explains Philly’s rash of housing collapses

There’s a dark side to Philadelphia’s long-running housing boom that should serve as a cautionary tale, writes Inquirer architecture critic Inga Saffron. With more novice developers rushing to get into the construction game, more existing rowhouses are being compromised.

So far this year, six occupied homes have been reduced to dust and those numbers don’t tell the whole story.

Because of restrictions on developers who desire to build up, many are opting to build down — putting units in the basement of multi-apartment buildings. This practice, while smart for profits, isn’t ideal for the foundations of aging homes nearby.

What you need to know today

  1. Five people were shot in Philadelphia’s Ogontz section on Thursday afternoon, just two miles away on the very same street as Wednesday night’s police shooting. Police Commissioner Richard Ross said visiting a second mass shooting in almost exactly 24 hours was exhausting and frustrating.

  2. Has Philadelphia experienced post-recession job growth? Yes. Are city residents the ones benefitting most from it? No, according to a new Pew report.

  3. Jersey Shore homeowners pushed back against the state’s rental tax that was implemented less than a year ago. The law has been revised and my colleague Laura McCrystal explains how to know if your Shore home will be taxed or not.

  4. Also in Shore news: Police say Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney’s daughter and the daughter of a North Wildwood councilwoman were involved in an altercation that left both of them in handcuffs.

  5. The Eagles took on Nick Foles and the Jaguars in their second preseason game last night — although there weren’t many starters on the field. While the Birds walked away with the win, they lost another quarterback to injury for the second straight week.

  6. Thanks to a Bryce Harper blast in the 9th-inning, the Phillies wound up on the winning end of one of their most dramatic comebacks in some time.

Through Your Eyes | #OurPhilly

Some important words to live by, @carmenino. Thanks for sharing.

Tag your Instagram posts or tweets with #OurPhilly and we’ll pick our favorite each day to feature in this newsletter and give you a shout out!

That’s Interesting

  1. Philly’s savviest art students have been taking advantage of a quiet perk offered by the Philadelphia Museum of Art for decades. Now the museum has quietly ended the policy.

  2. Need a Lyft? The ride-sharing company is taking part in a new initiative to help bring fresh, healthy foods to Philadelphians in need.

  3. Taking a cue from Regina George herself, Philadelphians dressed in pink and gathered at the Kimmel Center this week for an evening with Upper Darby’s own Tina Fey to discuss 15 years of Mean Girls and the Philly debut of the movie’s musical adaptation.

  4. Boating on the upper Delaware River is pretty easy. Boating in Philly? That’s a challenge. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t a uniquely Philly way to do it.

  5. Speaking of our waterways, blue-green algae has emerged as a growing scourge this summer — prompting beach closures in our area. Reporter Frank Kummer tackles some of the basic questions about the bacteria and its risks.

Opinions

“I can see the anger of a black community that has been victimized by police, and the frustration of police who don’t know the communities they patrol. Now that the community and the police have each other’s attention, we must use this moment as an opportunity for dialogue. If we can’t do that, we must prepare to be a city in which none of us is safe.” — Columnist Solomon Jones writes that the police shooting should signal a fresh start for police and residents in North Philly.

  1. Conversion therapy is causing deliberate harm to LGBTQ people, writes researcher Carl Streed Jr. That’s why he felt compelled to call for statewide bans on the practice.

  2. Jennifer Rich, an assistant professor and director of the Rowan Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies, writes that her interviews with alt-right students taught her that extremist beliefs can change from dialogue.

What we’re reading

  1. Jay-Z once criticized the NFL for its treatment of Colin Kaepernick. Now, he’s struck a deal with the league — a move The Atlantic’s Jemele Hill believes helps the NFL erase Kaepernick.

  2. Philadelphia will never erase May 13, 1985 from its collective memory. Vox offers an oral history of the MOVE bombing which changed our city forever.

  3. One of our city’s most well-known rappers is the subject of one of Amazon’s most talked about documentaries. Philadelphia magazine rounds up the key takeaways from Free Meek.

A Daily Dose of | Christmas

Yes, we know it’s August, but an annual holiday tradition is already underway. It’s Christmas card season at the Jersey Shore, and the sandy beaches make for a popular backdrop.