Gun violence a focus in Philadelphia as mayor plans vigil for Fairmount Park mass shooting victims
Philadelphia is standing against gun violence on Tuesday with two events, one week after the fatal mass shooting on Lemon Hill in Fairmount Park.
The shooting late on Memorial Day killed 21-year-old Mikhail Bowers and 23-year-old Amya Devlin. Nine other people were hurt.
Families have held their own balloon release events and have mourned those lost, as police continue looking for the shooters involved. Investigators now say six guns were used, though the number of people who fired those guns is unclear.
The shooting in the final week of May came just before June, also known as Gun Violence Awareness Month.
Earlier Tuesday, city leaders gathered at City Hall – donning orange pins for Gun Violence Awareness Month – to recognize the action they're taking to combat gun violence in Philadelphia. Yet, they acknowledged their work is far from over.
"Philadelphia continues to trend in the right direction," Mayor Cherelle Parker said. "However, we know that now is not the time for us to take the foot off the gas."
The mayor highlighted that homicides in the first five months of 2025 are down nearly 15% compared to the first five months of last year. But she made it clear that numbers don't capture the pain.
"Whenever we lose a life, it's not just a statistic," she said. "That's a loved one — that's somebody's child."
Despite the recent gun violence in the city, Chief Public Safety Director Adam Geer urged people not to live in fear.
"We will come together as one — as we will tonight — and we will not let, as the mayor said, a few folks hold this city hostage," Geer said.
At 6 p.m., Parker and other officials and community members are set to take part in a community prayer vigil at Lemon Hill.
"This gathering will provide a space for collective mourning, reflection, and healing while fostering dialogue on community safety and the ongoing challenges related to gun violence. The vigil will include a series of prayers, moments of silence, and opportunities for community members to share their thoughts," the city wrote in a news release.
Everyone attending Tuesday night's event is encouraged to bring candles, flowers or personal mementos to honor those lost.
