After surviving a drive-by taking pictures and dedicating his life to serving to different gun violence survivors, a younger Philadelphia father’s story took a heartbreaking and surprising flip in a latest mass taking pictures.
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Trump’s Tariffs Would possibly Stick Round. What Ought to We Purchase Now?
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Azir Harris had been confined to a wheelchair after gunfire left him paralyzed at 17 years previous as he was strolling to a deli. The 24-year-old labored diligently to curb gunfire in his neighborhood ever since. On Monday (July 7), the daddy of 1 was visiting Grays Ferry for a cookout after dozens gathered the night earlier than to recollect 4 slain males who had died years prior.
Round 1 a.m., gunshots rang out; Harris, alongside his girlfriend Siani Wylie and lots of others, have been caught within the crossfire.
In response to stories, Harris, sure to his wheelchair, tried to get via two automobiles to seek out security. His wheelchair couldn’t match between the 2 automobiles, and he turned trapped. He was shot a number of occasions within the again. Harris, described as somebody who would “attempt to do all the pieces he can to try to put a smile on folks’s faces,” was rushed to a hospital the place he died shortly after 2:15 a.m., police mentioned.
Two others, Zahir Wylie, 23, and Jason Reese, 19, have been additionally killed. 9 extra people have been wounded, together with Wylie, who was injured attempting to guard Harris.
“I figured they’d both go to the shop, get some juice or one thing like that, by no means thought he’d be on the opposite facet of city when that occurred to him,” Harris’ father Troy described when referencing that when his son’s associates invited him exterior, he didn’t query it. “When he was within the wheelchair, I used to be carrying him up and down the steps. I carried him when he was a child. I carried him via his first incident, and I couldn’t decide him up this time.”
“The child fought so arduous to remain right here,” Troy instructed the Inquirer. “And look … look what occurred.”
Authorities say greater than 100 pictures erupted throughout an impromptu block celebration, putting folks, houses, and automobiles. The taking pictures, which was captured on Ring digital camera and has since went viral, showcased a number of shooters, a barrage of gunfire, and scrambling partygoers. Police have but to cost anybody in reference to the taking pictures.
Harris’ wheelchair remained on the block Monday morning.
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