City Council Explores Philadelphia's Youth Gun Violence Epidemic
By Pat Loeb
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Philadelphia City Council is focusing on youth gun violence in a hearing today, as the city sees a steady uptick in shootings and homicides.
The police commissioner testified about one of the leading causes of youth violence.
Commissioner Richard Ross told a council panel he finds a common motive running through violent incidents, regardless of where it happens.
"Retaliatory violence. That's our biggest issue that we deal with every day."
One shooting can lead to multiple others, a major factor, he says, in the slightly higher number of homicides in the city in this year to date.
But one, he says, with a solution that anyone can contribute to.
"If you hear about something brewing, irrespective of how small it may be, give us a call, let us be the determining factor on whether it was significant or not."
Ross also stressed it will take more than policing to address the problem of youth violence.