Afea Tucker

2 months ago | thetrace.org | Afea Tucker |Mensah M. Dean

The Trace Carla Clarkson owns The Link Studios, a salon located in Philadelphia’s Old City neighborhood, a historical district that borders Center City, Northern Liberties, and Society Hill. Year round, the neighborhood attracts thousands of tourists and passersby. In the summer, you’ll see people dining al fresco, shopping, jogging, and walking their dogs. You may even spot a celebrity or two.

2 months ago | thetrace.org | Mensah M. Dean |Afea Tucker

The Trace Nearly four months after an unarmed Black man was fatally shot by a white off-duty homicide detective, the Philadelphia Citizens Police Oversight Commission knows little more about the circumstances of the shooting than do members of the general public. Initially, when Detective Christopher Sweeney, 43, shot Robert Jones, 54, on October 3, the Philadelphia Police Department said the shooting took place during an attempted carjacking.

Jan 17, 2025 | thetrace.org | Mensah M. Dean |Joy Resmovits |Afea Tucker

The Trace Just before 9:30 p.m. on December 30, Philadelphia City Councilmember Jim Harrity was home watching TV when he heard a series of rapid bangs. As a longtime resident of the city’s Kensington neighborhood, which is notorious for street-corner drug dealing and its accompanying violence, he suspected it was gunfire. Harrity looked out the window and saw a young man crumpled on the ground, so he jumped and yelled to his wife upstairs, telling her to get down and call the police.

Aug 20, 2024 | thetrace.org | Afea Tucker |Sunny Sone |Mensah M. Dean

The TraceKareem Rosser is a world-class polo player and decorated intercollegiate champ. He’s modeled for Polo Ralph Lauren, earned a degree in economics from Colorado State University, and traveled to almost every continent. But two decades ago, when he was growing up in West Philadelphia, he didn’t know that he’d make it there. “I was one of the many young people in my neighborhood trying to figure out how to survive,” he said.

Jun 24, 2024 | thetrace.org | Mensah M. Dean |Joy Resmovits |Afea Tucker

The TraceIn March, eight Philadelphia high school students waiting for a city bus were mowed down by rapid gunfire. Last October, a police officer in an airport parking garage confronted a thief breaking into a car, only to be killed by a similar burst of gunfire. Philadelphia Police believe that the gunmen in both of these cases augmented their weapons with Glock switches.