DRUG OVERDOSES ARE OUTPACING HOMICIDES

Death Grip

Drug deaths are outpacing homicides in Philadelphia, even as the
bodies piled up during one of the city's deadliest weekends with 19
shot - six of them fatally.

The last drug overdose occurred on Friday when a 36-year-old man was
dead on arrival at 5:03 p.m. at Temple University Hospital.

Early yesterday, Kareem Smith, 33, found shot once in the chest and
lying between two parked cars in South Philadelphia, became the most
recent homicide.

As of yesterday, city records show there were 266 drug deaths. This
compares to 211 homicides, more than 80 percent of them committed
with handguns.

And authorities expect both homicides and drug deaths to surpass last
year's totals, when there were 488 drug deaths and 380 homicides.

In 2004, drug deaths also outnumbered homicides 361 to 330.

The weekend homicides prompted one homicide detective to say that's
"enough killing in this city for a month.

"There doesn't seem to be an end in sight," he added.

While there was no official comment from the police department,
Commissioner Sylvester Johnson was expected to formally address the
issue later this week.

With temperatures hovering in the 90s, Philadelphia's long hot summer
is facing a double threat from toxic drug overdoses and murders with
wide-ranging motives committed by criminals with easy access to handguns.

Jeff Moran, spokesman for the Medical Examiner's Office, said the
rise in drug deaths is due to a lethal combination of fentanyl-laced heroin.

"We've had more than 50 [fentanyl-related] deaths since April with
other cases still pending," Moran said.

Fentanyl is an opiate that is 40 to 100 times more powerful than morphine.

A month ago, U.S. Attorney Patrick Meehan, District Attorney Lynne
Abraham and officials from the FBI, DEA and city agencies stated that
as many as 70 fentanyl-related deaths had occurred since April in the area.

Arthur Evans, director of the city Department of Behavioral health,
said outreach teams have been targeting fentanyl hotspots, including
South Philadelphia.

Detox services and beds for substance abuse rehab are available, he
said. He recommended calling the drug hotline: 888-545-2600.
Information also is available on the Web site, philly.networksofcare.org.

In Kensington, the scene of the weekend's most violent shooting
encounter with one dead and five wounded, children - 11 to 15 - were
calling for more police presence yesterday.

About six pre- and early-teens, who were shooting baskets on Nelson
Playground, blamed fights over drugs, alcohol, money and girls for
the violence.

A 13-year-old even blamed parents "who let their kids stay out past curfew."

They asked for more cops on the street, yet pointed out that when
patrol cars are coming, lookouts shout "5-0," "88" and "po-po" to
warn their pals.

A 15 year-old said he awoke to gunshots early Saturday.

At 2:05 a.m., police said, two pals walked up to others hanging on
Leithgow Street near Cumberland. An argument ensued and one man was
punched. Another man pulled out a gun and began firing. When the
smoke cleared, one was dead and five wounded.

Police withheld the identity of the dead man pending notification his family.

Treated at Temple University Hospital were Christino Rivera, 36, for
a wound of the left leg, now in stable condition; Angel Dupree, 27,
for a bullet wound of the back, and later released; a Dupree
relative, Alex Dupree, 25, shot in the buttocks and listed in
critical condition; and Vincent Barksdale, 31, who was shot in the
left shin and is listed in stable condition.

Treated at Hahnemann University Hospital was Jose Delgado, 24, shot
in the groin, now in stable condition.

Other shootings included:

1:50 a.m. Saturday: A 27-year-old man was shot in the right leg on
Luzerne Street near H and taken by private auto to Frankford Hospital
- -Torresdale, where he is in stable condition.

2:29 a.m.: A 27-year-old man was shot in the chest at 20th and
Hamilton streets and taken to Hahnemann, where he is listed in
critical condition.

2:43 a.m.: Derik Saunders, 35, of Reedland Street near 64th, was
found shot in the chest, head and groin on 46th Street near Linmore
Avenue. He died at the scene at 2:55 a.m.

5:07 a.m.: Richy Santiago, 23, of Huntingdon Street near Braddock,
was fatally shot during a fight on Coral Street near Lehigh Avenue.
He died at 5:48 a.m. at Temple University Hospital.

10:49 a.m.: Champ Johnson, 21, of 24th Street near Broad, was shot
once in the head on Avondale Street near Trinity. He died at the
scene at 10:56 a.m.

5:21 p.m.: Mark Smith, 29, of Berks Street near 56th, was shot
several times while sitting inside a red Pontiac Grand Am on Elmwood
Avenue near 73rd Street. He died at 5:55 p.m. at the Hospital of the
University of Pennsylvania.

1:26 a.m. yesterday: Kareem Smith, 33, of 23rd Street near Cantrell,
was found shot once in the chest, lying between two parked cars on
Jackson Street near 22nd. He was pronounced dead at 1:52 a.m. at the
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.

3:21 a.m.: A double shooting on Wharton Street near Broad, where a
man and a woman were each shot in the thigh and taken to the Hospital
of the University of Pennsylvania and listed in stable condition.

12:15 p.m.: A gunman trying to rob a store accidently shot himself
during a fight with the store owner and a customer on Walnut Lane
near Baynton Street. He was taken to Einstein Medical Center. He is
in stable condition.

6:30 p.m.: A man was shot in the left leg on Park Avenue near Pike
Street and was taken to Temple University Hospital. He was in stable condition.

9:30 p.m.: A double shooting on Summer Street near Farson left one
man shot in the left side and a woman shot in the wrist. Both were
taken to the Hospital at the University of Pennsylvania. Their
conditions were unknown.