Collington's death was the sixth gunshot death in a week in the city, which has been beset by gun crime. His death raises Philadelphia's homicide rate to a new high of 506 this year. The dreadful milestone shattered the 1990 record of 500 killings in a single year.
The rising homicide rate has strained relations between cops and local District Attorney Larry Krasner, who is accused by officers of allowing crime to spiral out of control by failing to pursue gun crimes.
"Each and every homicide carries with it a profound sense of loss," According to a press release issued on Sunday by Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw.
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"However, for our City to have reached such a tragic milestone - 500 lives cut short - it carries a weight that is almost impossible to truly comprehend."
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"We mourn the loss of a bright and thriving political science student, and share in the wrenching grief of his family and friends," In a statement to students, Temple University's Executive Director, Charlie Leone, wrote.
The homicide is currently under investigation by the Philadelphia Police Department, which could not be reached for comment by DailyMail.com. According to neighbors, Collington had a brief scuffle with the assailant before gunshots rang out. He was taken to Temple University Hospital and died as a result of his injuries.
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According to a March research by the Philadelphia Inquirer, police in Philadelphia have made a record number of arrests for illegal weapons possession this year, but the defendants' odds of being convicted have decreased from 63% in 2017 to 49% in 2021. Since Krasner's inauguration in January 2018, Police Commissioner Outlaw has been cited as claiming that Philadelphia's criminal justice system has become a "revolving door" for serial gun offenders.
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In September, Outlaw stated that she and Krasner 'simply don't agree' on whether pursuing charges for unlawful gun and drug possession would lessen violent crime in the city.
"Fundamentally, there are very key disconnects there, as far as which crimes we prioritize, and who believes what are the main drivers of the violent crime that we’re seeing," Outlaw said.
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"The city is nearing 500 homicides. Children are getting shot, unborn children getting shot, what is the city doing about this?" Following a pregnant woman was shot dead unloading gifts from her car after a baby shower, Deputy Commissioner Christine Coulter told ABC6 last week.
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"We talk about it, we do talk about the violence," Christopher Rudolph, a Temple student, told CBS 3.
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"Gun violence continues to affect local communities, and especially young lives, across our city and our nation. We fully understand concerns about individual safety, especially at a time when Philadelphia, like so many other U.S. cities, has experienced a sharp increase in violent crime over the past year," wrote Leone in his statement.
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After an 18-year-old was shot dead on campus on November 17, Temple doubled the number of police and bike security patrols on campus.
This year, the college began partnering with the Philadelphia Police Department to monitor social media accounts in order to spot planned illegal action before it occurs, as well as installing extra security cameras on campus and launching a walking escort program for students and faculty.
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