Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner has charged Taesean Grant in connection with a nonfatal shooting involving a "ghost gun" on Tuesday last week on the 30 block of 52nd Street. Grant, born October 20, 2004, is accused of shooting a 16-year-old male after an argument escalated into a physical confrontation. The teenager attempted to flee but was shot in the back, according to the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office release.
Surveillance footage captured the events leading up to the shooting, and Philadelphia Police officers, who were nearby, apprehended Grant shortly after the incident. They recovered the weapon and fired cartridge casings that matched Grant's statements. Grant faces multiple charges, including two counts of Aggravated Assault and violations of the Uniform Firearms Act. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Monday next week, to determine if there is sufficient cause to proceed with the charges.
District Attorney Krasner highlighted concerns over the ease of access to "ghost guns," which are unserialized and often assembled from parts. "This case is yet another clear example of why state legislators need to enact commonsense gun laws to help curb the proliferation of so-called ‘ghost guns,'" Krasner said in the same release. Ghost guns, which lack traceability, have been increasingly involved in criminal activities and are difficult for law enforcement to trace.
The Philadelphia District Attorney's Office handles around 40,000 criminal cases annually, emphasizing the extent of gun violence in the city. The shooting on 52nd Street highlights the broader issue of gun violence and the need for stronger prosecution and legislative reform to address it.
