As homicides top 100, Bishop Jakes says ‘murder march’ must stop

After hitting 100 homicides, Philadelphia witnessed unrelenting violence over the weekend, with the gruesome discovery of a woman's body with a plastic bag tied over her head and three men felled by gunfire.

Police said no arrests had been made in the homicides, which boost the city total to at least 104, higher than that of some larger cities in the country.

Victims of three other unrelated shootings early today were in critical condition tonight.

"It was a gory night," said an officer who declined to be named.

Across the city and beyond, officials and members of the community are struggling to stop the violence. Thousands went to Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church in West Oak Lane tonight to hear nationally known Bishop T.D. Jakes speak about how to make the streets safer and more peaceful.

"This mounting death toll and murder march has got to stop," Jakes said. "Enough is enough."

The slain woman, who has not been identified, was found yesterday lying near railroad tracks in the 3000 block of Trenton Avenue in the Kensington section of the city, police Sgt. Tim Cooney said. She had been beaten and was pronounced dead at the scene about 5:30 p.m., police said.

Later last night, Herbert Campbell, 51, of the 4900 block of South Dewey Street, was found shot in the head at Dewey and Market Streets in West Philadelphia.

Muhammed Abdul Jabar, 24, was fatally shot after an argument outside Mickey's Lounge & Bar in the 5000 block of North Fifth Street in the Olney section, according to Officer Elizabeth Skala. Jabar lived in the 4900 block of North Ninth Street.

Tonight, homicide detectives were investigating the death of a 45-year-old man found dead of gunshot wounds to the head in his home in the 7000 block of Woodland Avenue.

The city's homicide rate for the first three months of 2007 is more than 20 percent higher than for the same period last year. The 100th victim of 2006 was killed April 14.

About 5,500 people gathered tonight at the Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church, with the sanctuary filled to capacity and the overflow crowd watching on closed-circuit TV.

"I'm pleased to be here, but disturbed by the circumstances," Jakes told them.

The meeting drew so many ministers and congregants from many denominations that Jakes told them: "If I was the devil I wouldn't even come to Philly with all the preachers and power you've got."

The Rev. Mark Hatcher of Enon Tabernacle called the rally a crusade and said it was God who brought everyone to the church. "The city is going to know this is not an ordinary gathering," he said. "God is to empower us to shape this city."

Jakes said he would meet with city leaders tomorrow morning.

Mayor Street spoke out at an antiviolence rally over the weekend, and all the mayoral candidates have proposed ideas to address a problem that some say is swallowing the city and its image.

The Police Department has beefed up its efforts, hiring more officers, stepping up patrols in targeted areas, and devising strategies.

But the mayhem continues, as does the toll on innocent victims. In a fatal shooting last weekend, Jovonne Stelly, a mother of four, was killed in a spray of bullets that erupted on Pentridge Street in the Cobbs Creek section of the city.

Police say they will charge those involved in such gunfire with homicide, even if they don't directly fire the shots that end a bystander's life.

A fund-raiser was held today for Stelly's children by a neighborhood motorcycle group, the First State Road Rattlerz.

Meanwhile, the three people injured in shootings early today remained hospitalized. Police have not released their names. A 16-year-old boy was shot twice in the neck at 16th Street and Hunting Park Avenue.

About two hours later, a 20-year-old man was shot in the 1500 block of South Lindenwood Street, in Southwest Philadelphia. And a 29-year-old woman was shot in the chest at 52d and Market Streets.