Fletcher, 40, was “caught in the crossfire” of an exchange of gunfire with the 14-year-old and at least one other person, police said. District Attorney Larry Krasner confirmed the teenager is being charged as an adult, but officials did not release his name during a press conference Monday. CNN contacted the Defender Association of Philadelphia to determine if they represent the teenager. Outlaw said officers heard multiple gunshots Friday around 1:30 a.m. in the area of the recreation center and saw people running from the playground when they responded to the scene. After being shot, Fletcher ran to a local business where workers tried to treat her wounds. Officers took Fletcher to a nearby hospital, but she died later that night, Outlaw said. The 14-year-old boy was taken into custody after a brief chase and a 9mm “ghost gun” was found in a nearby trash can, Outlaw said. Authorities also found 12 shell casings at the scene. It remains unknown what led to the fight, and authorities are still looking for other suspects.
The toll increased when the city faced staffing shortages, the Commissioner said
Fletcher agreed in the spring to work as a pool maintenance worker when the city, like many others, was facing a shortage of staff at its pools and agreed to stay at Mill Creek Recreation Center after the pool season ended, according to Parks and The commissioner recreation director Kathryn Ott Lovell, who called Fletcher “a beloved staff member.” “Tiffany answered the call every day to serve the children and families of her community and make her three children and family proud,” Ott Lovell said. The leisure center had just opened at 1pm that day. Four other employees were present at the center when the shootings occurred, according to Ott Lovell. “Words alone cannot express the rage, hurt and sadness we all feel. Dedicated, passionate and driven — Tiffany Fletcher was just doing her job outside the Mill Creek Rec Center in West Philadelphia when – — in a brazen and senseless act of violence — was hit by crossfire in the middle of the day,” Mayor Jim Kenney said. Jean Washington, Fletcher’s niece, called her aunt “a wonderful mother … aunt, sister, daughter.” “I want justice for her children. They deserve their mom. For peace, we need justice,” Washington said.
‘Unforgivable, deeply disappointing, appalling’ level of gun violence, prosecutor says
Philadelphia has experienced an increase in gun violence, DA Krasner said. Last week, the city recorded 11 homicides from Sept. 3 to Sept. 9, he said. In addition, there have been 384 homicides this year in the city as of Sunday, a 4 percent increase over the same period last year, Krasner said. “It is extremely important that we understand that we are dealing with an inexcusable, deeply disappointing, appalling level of gun violence in the city of Philadelphia that is increasingly affecting children,” Krasner said. The city’s mayor also commented on the increase in violence, calling the recent number of incidents “outrageous” and “simply unacceptable”. “It is simply unimaginable to think how many lives have been affected by gun violence and my deepest condolences go out to the loved ones of all those affected,” Kenney said. Kenney said continued violence near recreation centers and schools was one of the reasons the city is now offering a $10,000 reward for any information leading to the arrest and conviction of someone who fires a gun within 500 feet of a school, recreation center library. “Our playgrounds, our parks, our recreation centers should be safe and sacred places in our communities,” said Ott Lovell. CNN’s Tanika Gray, Jessica Prater, Zenebou Sylla and Theresa Waldrop contributed to this report.
