HARRISBURG -March 7, 2019 – Senator Vincent Hughes (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery) issued the following statement after Attorney General Josh Shapiro, Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner, and Philadelphia Police Commissioner Richard Ross announced indictments in connection to multiple shootings investigated by the Gun Violence Task Force:
I applaud the efforts of Attorney General Josh Shapiro, District Attorney Larry Krasner, Commissioner Richard Ross and all the law enforcement officers who worked to track down the eight individuals responsible for a rash of shootings in South Philadelphia in 2017 and 2018. The shootings between two rival groups claimed three lives and injured 35 more. Gun violence has claimed too many lives and ripped apart too many families across Philadelphia. Today’s announcement is a reminder that we need to be vigilant in fighting the gun violence epidemic.
It also reaffirms that we must provide our law enforcement officers with the resources they need to do their jobs effectively. I am a strong supporter of the Gun Violence Task Force, headed by AG Shapiro, and the work done in concert with the district attorney’s office, Philadelphia police, and all of the members of the task force.
Today, the investigators showed they are producing results. I look forward to working with them to increase state funding to stop criminals and help get more illegal guns off the streets of Philadelphia and other communities across Pennsylvania.