The human cost of gun violence | Morning Newsletter
And 6 books to read this summer.
The Morning Newsletter
Start your day with the Philly news you need and the stories you want all in one easy-to-read newsletter
We’ve got a warm, humid Sunday, with showers and thunderstorms likely in the afternoon and temps topping out in the low- to mid-80s.
Our lead story provides a unique window into the relentless gang-related violence that has plagued a South Philly neighborhood for years.
— Paola Pérez (@pdesiperez, morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)
Nyseem Smith doesn’t mince words when describing what it was like to shoot people with his friends, week after week, sometimes day after day.
Smith and his crew would steal a car, hop in with guns, and pull up on their rivals. The cycle of violence — sometimes chronicled on Instagram — became virtually impossible to extinguish. It would also involve victims who had nothing to do with the long-running neighborhood conflict.
One of them was 15-year-old Rasul Benson. He was shot and killed at a South Philadelphia gas station in 2017.
By the time investigators caught up with Smith in 2019, he confessed to participating in shootings that left at least 17 people wounded and one man dead.
Benson’s murder would go unsolved for more than a year. The wait gnawed at Benson’s grandmother, Jackee Nichols.
It wasn’t until Smith started talking that the investigation started to heat up. This month, Smith served as a key witness against two men charged in Benson’s shooting death.
Why did he and a generation of young men feel the conflict was worth such bloodshed? His reply was just five words: “We don’t like each other.”
Continue reading this exceedingly rare glimpse into the type of recurring violence that can take hold in the city.
What you should know today
A 30-year-old man was found shot to death in a parking lot along Kelly Drive near Philly’s Boathouse Row just before 3 a.m. Saturday. He was lying next to a vehicle that had been reported stolen.
Hundreds of people opposed to abortion rights marched through Center City on Saturday to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade. The fight for freedom to make health choices without government interference fueled Democrats in Pennsylvania’s midterms. Will it motivate voters again in 2024?
Real-time digital countdown clocks are finally being tested in SEPTA stations along the Market-Frankford Line.
Amazon says its Southwest Philly warehouse will open in October. It’s one of two projects pushing development in the area.
Philadelphia has a surprising bounty of fruit trees. Who has the right to their harvest? Our latest Curious Philly feature navigates the complicated matter.
Mike’s BBQ is being sold. Founder Mike Strauss will hand over the keys on July 1 as he considers a move to the Philippines.
We spoke to Philly librarians and experts for their recommendations of six books you should read this summer, and don’t forget to grab the official Bookstore Map (free while supplies last!).
❓Pop quiz❓
Philadelphia is “America’s Garden Capital.” How many public gardens can you discover within 30 miles of the city?
A) 25
B) 38
C) 52
D) 100
Think you know? Check your answer here.
🧩 Unscramble the anagram 🧩
Hint: Celebration of lights and culture
ALVIN FLATTENERS
We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here. Send us your own original anagram to unscramble if you’d like. Email us if you know the answer. Cheers to George Zindel who correctly guessed Friday’s answer: Dorney Park.
Photo of the day
🎶 For today’s Sunday track, we’re listening to: “I know that you’re gonna have it your way or nothing at all / But I think you’re moving too fast.” 🎶 Sorry, TLC, but my next outdoorsy adventure includes chasing waterfalls.
👋🏽 For now, I’ll enjoy watching water fall from the sky from the comfort of my couch. If we get a break from the clouds, I just might brave the streets for a milkshake.