Homicide at Porter & Sartain

**mikkifinn** · 09-10-2012, 11:39 AM

Anyone know anything about this? I live nearby but was out of town & didn't have a chance to talk to my neighbors. Philly.com basically says a 28 year old guy from North Philly (800 block of North 11th Street) was shot in the head while he sat in a minivan parked on Sartain at around 7pm on Saturday. That seems incredibly bizarre for this area, plus, it still would have been fairly light out. (We did have a murder a block away on New Year's Eve, but that was 2 guys on the block fighting over a spot, and the poor older guy who was the victim was trying to break it up & got stabbed. The guy who did the killing was a problem on the block for years)

By contrast, this victim, identified as Anthony Ginns, was from nowhere around here, and if he is the same Anthony Ginns, has a criminal record for drugs & theft. Sartain seems to be a really quiet block. WTF? Drug-related hit? Just wondering if anyone has heard anything. Thanks.

**avgsizepecker** · 09-10-2012, 11:43 AM

I initially read that it was at Porter and Sartain also but then read that it was the 2500 block of North Sartain St. which would make more sense.

**mikkifinn** · 09-10-2012, 12:25 PM

That would totally make more sense. It's close to where the victim lived, plus, I can't imagine that if it happened here over the weekend that there wouldn't have been a bunch of people who were out at the time. It would be tough to blow someone away at that time on the street & just disappear. Yet, even the latest philly.com report says it happened in "South Philadelphia", so in addition to naming Porter as the cross street, they are identifying it as South Philly. Could they screw up that much? Where did you read that it was North Sartain?

**O.H. Lee** · 09-10-2012, 12:28 PM

Quality reporting from the Philadelphia newspapers.

It was 2500 North Sartain Street

The fact that the victim was transported to Temple Hospital should have been a hint.

**mikkifinn** · 09-10-2012, 12:53 PM

You know, O.H. Lee, I actually DID wonder how the hell they got the guy there so damned fast, and why they would go to Temple rather than Jefferson, but my experience has taught me never to underestimate Philadelphia police when they have to get someone to a hospital quickly.

Also, it would be more likely for the crack reporters to mistake the hospital than the location, (which they mistook in such detail, as well) so I didn't let the hospital thing be dispositive. But, yes, I did notice that.

At any rate, thanks for clearing that up.

**AngelB** · 09-10-2012, 11:48 PM

These are the same idiot reporters that peppered this story with "...dumped him in the street near the South Philadelphia neighborhood known as Devil's Pocket." Any normal person not acting as a fear monger would maybe say at or near: Naval Square, Gray's Ferry, Fitler Square, etc. Devil's Pocket... WTF?!?

Screaming man found duct-taped, bound on South Philly street

**mikkifinn** · 09-11-2012, 11:58 AM

It's such a poetic name, although I can see the inflammatory nature it evokes. Some reporter was probably dying to use it. Those reporters love them some drama.
It actually is a real neighborhood, although probably only the people that grew up near there even know or remember that name. I know someone from around there.

Anyway, I found this on Wikipedia. I thought it was funny that it says Irish people continue to live there despite "gentrification".

Devil's Pocket, Philadelphia - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

**O.H. Lee** · 09-11-2012, 06:57 PM

I was suprised at how many inquiries we had about 'the homicide on Sartain Street that nobody had any info on'.

At least you guys care about your neighborhood.

**mikkifinn** · 09-11-2012, 11:42 PM

Yes, we do! I'm sure a lot of people were freaked out to read that. I know anything can happen anywhere, but it just seemed crazy.

For example, last night there was some kind of minor fire on 2400 South Warnock, around midnight, and a lot of people from blocks away showed up for that, so the idea that someone could be shot while sitting in a car around here & there wouldn't be a ton of witnesses...people are always around & always watching.

People sometimes complain about neighbors being nosey & in everyone's business, but I think it's a great crime deterrent.

**devilspocket** · 09-11-2012, 11:50 PM

Most of us who live here still call it the Devil's Pocket and will continue to do so. We indoctrinate the newcomers so our neighborhood's distinctive name will not die out.

Originally Posted by mikkifinn

It's such a poetic name, although I can see the inflammatory nature it evokes. Some reporter was probably dying to use it. Those reporters love them some drama.
It actually is a real neighborhood, although probably only the people that grew up near there even know or remember that name. I know someone from around there.

Anyway, I found this on Wikipedia. I thought it was funny that it says Irish people continue to live there despite "gentrification".

Devil's Pocket, Philadelphia - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

**mikkifinn** · 09-12-2012, 06:56 PM

Like I said, it is very poetic. It reminds me of something out of a 1940's film noir. Probably the next best best neighborhood name in the city is Swampoodle, and you don't see that used much, either.

Swampoodle (Philadelphia) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia