Senator Sharif Street (D-Philadelphia) lamented the tragic death of his nephew Salahadin Mahmoud during the violent Fourth of July weekend. Mahmoud, who was buried Tuesday, is one of the latest victims in the escalating gun violence crisis in Philadelphia.
Mahmoud, affectionally known as Lala, was at a July 4 barbecue on Sunday night near the corner of 60th and Sansom streets in West Philadelphia. According to audacy.com, at about 11 p.m., at least one individual came up and fired more than 100 rounds into the crowd in that area. One of those shots struck and killed Mahmoud, who was 21.
Street explained Mahmoud was his wife’s first cousin’s son, but they considered him a nephew. “He always had a smile on his face.” The Senator said at City Hall Tuesday that he “was full of big ideas, and thought his business was going to take off, had lots of other business ideas.”
You can read: Wave of violence hits Paterson during July 4th weekend
“It’s not acceptable that we do nothing,” Street added. “The senselessness, the tragedy of it all, is overwhelming,” added the Senator.
His grief was accompanied by the presence of several political colleagues, including Sen. Vince Hughes (D-Philadelphia and Montgomery County), Rep. Joanna McClinton (D-Philadelphia and Delaware County), city councilmembers and Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner.
A violent city
There have now been more homicides in Philadelphia than in all of 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 respectively. The city has recorded 285 homicides as of early Tuesday afternoon, up nearly 40% from last year.
They once again called for gun reform legislation and additional state money for prevention, and they reiterated the need for the community to step forward with information.
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