Shooting near 20th and McKean?

[westPassyunk323]

Hey all,

Heard at least 5 - 10 rounds fired near 20th and McKean, anyone know of any additional information / have access to a police scanner? Heard shots fired seemingly due north of me from my place at 20 and Snyder.

[DeeJay57]

Hi, Everyone,

The shooting happened in the 2000 block of Mercy -- as of 11:30 PM, police are still conducting their investigation. Someone was shot in the hand right near my house. I called 911 when I heard the shots and the cops were here really fast.

Too close for comfort; don't know if I'll be able to sleep tonight.

[westPassyunk323]

I'm with you DJ, only half a block from me.

[schuylkillraide]

I think i am gonna pack it in before January, i been waiting for things to change, it doesnt look like its going to happen.

[westPassyunk323]

Well I was under no illusions when I moved to the 'West Passyunk' area. I knew it was an area where 'bad things happen' and just took a gamble that bad things wouldn't happen to me. Only place I could find where I could:
a) park within a block of my house guaranteed even after midnight
b) easily afford the rent ($700 for 3 bedroom townhouse)
c) easy walking distance to a subway stop and bus stop on the corner
d) easy walk to bars / etc on a major thoroughfare (EPX in this case but also looked in Fishtown, UCity, etc)

My block itself is a nice side street, and while occasionally there are drugs sold on the corner, they are people from the neighborhood just trying to do their thing, with no violence and no one getting hurt. Never bothered me so I say live and let live.

But also kids playing on the block and a real neighborhood feel to balance it all out.

But the late night gun shots have been moving closer since I've been here, and this one half a block away got me a little nervous.

However, I wasn't really worried until last week. Friends were parking on McKean and messed up parallel parking the first time, but did just fine the second time. Apparently, the people in the fully tinted SUV waiting behind us were none too pleased. Once we finished parking, they sped to the stop sign, then, after we got out, reversed back to where we were, rolled down the back window, pointed a gun out and pulled until the clip was empty. I dove behind a car immediately for cover. However, one of my friends from the suburbs didn't have that instinct and just stood there in shock, got hit 6 times. They sped away, I look up and just see red on her chest all over. I had the 'my friend is going to die because I live in ****ty neighborhood' moment before I realized it was red paintballs. She still has massive welts from being hit close range. Not sure if I should be actually freaked out or not, after all it was only paintballs, but certainly scared the **** out of me at the time.

At the same time though, my original point still stands, can't afford a better neighborhood, love my house, and get along well with my neighbors. So, when my lease renewal comes up in 5 months, I will probably renew, cross my fingers the neighborhood gets better, and hope that additional bad things don't happen to me.

@schuylkillraide, thanks for prompting me to reassess the situation. Shame you are leaving the neighborhood, but I can't blame you whatsoever, and seems like a prudent decision to me if you have a better gameplan lined up.

[2happy4u]

you're kidding? not in point breeze!

[torts]

Too bad Sandy didn't flood the place.

[BarryG]

Well I was under no illusions when I moved to the 'West Passyunk' area. I knew it was an area where 'bad things happen' and just took a gamble that bad things wouldn't happen to me. Only place I could find where I could:
a) park within a block of my house guaranteed even after midnight
b) easily afford the rent ($700 for 3 bedroom townhouse)
c) easy walking distance to a subway stop and bus stop on the corner
d) easy walk to bars / etc on a major thoroughfare (EPX in this case but also looked in Fishtown, UCity, etc)

My block itself is a nice side street, and while occasionally there are drugs sold on the corner, they are people from the neighborhood just trying to do their thing, with no violence and no one getting hurt. Never bothered me so I say live and let live.

But also kids playing on the block and a real neighborhood feel to balance it all out.

But the late night gun shots have been moving closer since I've been here, and this one half a block away got me a little nervous.

However, I wasn't really worried until last week. Friends were parking on McKean and messed up parallel parking the first time, but did just fine the second time. Apparently, the people in the fully tinted SUV waiting behind us were none too pleased. Once we finished parking, they sped to the stop sign, then, after we got out, reversed back to where we were, rolled down the back window, pointed a gun out and pulled until the clip was empty. I dove behind a car immediately for cover. However, one of my friends from the suburbs didn't have that instinct and just stood there in shock, got hit 6 times. They sped away, I look up and just see red on her chest all over. I had the 'my friend is going to die because I live in ****ty neighborhood' moment before I realized it was red paintballs. She still has massive welts from being hit close range. Not sure if I should be actually freaked out or not, after all it was only paintballs, but certainly scared the **** out of me at the time.

At the same time though, my original point still stands, can't afford a better neighborhood, love my house, and get along well with my neighbors. So, when my lease renewal comes up in 5 months, I will probably renew, cross my fingers the neighborhood gets better, and hope that additional bad things don't happen to me.

@schuylkillraide, thanks for prompting me to reassess the situation. Shame you are leaving the neighborhood, but I can't blame you whatsoever, and seems like a prudent decision to me if you have a better gameplan lined up.

Are you north or south of Snyder? Did you report this to the police?

[the mule]

you're kidding? not in point breeze!

This is West Passyunk, not Point Breeze. People love to shrink the borders of Point Breeze when it comes to positive change, but boy do those borders grow every time there's a shooting.

[sharkey]

This is West Passyunk, not Point Breeze. People love to shrink the borders of Point Breeze when it comes to positive change, but boy do those borders grow every time there's a shooting.

if he is above snyder it is point breeze

[Malloy]

if he is above snyder it is point breeze

So, when was this West Passyunk neighborhood established, last week?

[ChiefSalsa]

What's a Newbold?

But, seriously...

I lived my whole young life at 2133 McKean Street. By 1987, we had had enough of the young thugs who would walk thru the neighborhood. So, we left.

I always rooted for my old neighborhood to be brought back to some respectability. Based on talking to people who drive thru their, that simply has not happened.

[the mule]

if he is above snyder it is point breeze

Haha. Traditionally Point Breeze stops at Moore, though some say Mifflin. Never Snyder.

West Passyunk | Neighborhoods | Community | South Philly Review

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West Passyunk

Boundaries: 18th to 25th streets, Mifflin Street to Passyunk Avenue

[Sharkfood]

Haha. Traditionally Point Breeze stops at Moore, though some say Mifflin. Never Snyder.

West Passyunk | Neighborhoods | Community | South Philly Review

That southern boundary is probably a throwback to the days when south of Moore was an Italian enclave (as Chief Salsa alluded to). The boundary no longer holds.

[the mule]

That southern boundary is probably a throwback to the days when south of Moore was an Italian enclave (as Chief Salsa alluded to). The boundary no longer holds.

Except West Passyunk Neighbors still use Mifflin as their northern boundary, and just about every published boundary of Point Breeze stops north of Mifflin.

So what exactly do you use to determine for the boundaries of Point Breeze? Since when does the ethnic makeup of the area have anything to do with its name? I don't speak for ChiefSalsa, but he didn't say anything about the name of the area, he only spoke of its decline.

Anyway, I didn't mean to derail this thread by bickering over something so inconsequential, but it is all proving my point, Point Breeze gets the negative associations while the surrounding neighborhoods somehow dodge them.

In the end, there are a few lowlifes in the area who don't care if they're in Point Breeze, Newbold, or West Passyunk, so keep your wits about you when out on the street.