2012 Easton Homicide Rate Was Highest in a Decade
Easton has more murders last year than any year since 2007. Mayor tells newspaper improving neighborhoods will make city safer.
Back in November, after Easton saw its fourth killing of the year, we noted that the city's homicide rate was the worst since 2007. That was the year Easton had five murders.
What we didn't note was that Easton quickly tied that record a few weeks later, with the death of Paul Murray, the fifth and final homicide of 2012.
In an interview with the Morning Call last week, Mayor Sal Panto put the blame on easy access to guns and a culture of violence, but also said the city needs to change its demographics to lower violence.
"Better homes attract better people," Panto said. "We want the neighborhoods to come back. We want owner-occupied neighborhoods."
We want to know what you think. Tell us in the comments what you think Easton needs to do to lower its crime rate.
Easton homicides in 2012:
- Matthew Kelly, 20, of Bethlehem, died following a shooting in April in a West Ward church parking lot. A Northampton County grand jury is investigating the case.
- William Thompson, 43, was stabbed to death in July on Ferry Street. Police have charged Lawrence Gaines, 44, with criminal homicide in Thompson's death. His case is headed toward trial.
- George Jeter, 28, was shot and killed on 14th Street a few weeks after Thompson's death. Naheem Adams has been charged in his killing. His preliminary hearing -- which will determine whether his case goes to trial -- was postponed last month.
- Ervin Holton, was shot to death November 23 on W. Wilkes-Barre Street on the South Side. His death is still under investigation.
- Paul Murray, 44, was shot and killed Dec. 2 near McKeen and Nesquehoning streets. Police are still investigating.
joan
3:08 pm on Sunday, January 6, 2013
Sadly you are 1/2 right.Easy access to ILLEGAL firearms is the main culprit.Legit gun owners are the not usually the ones wielding all this calamity in our neighborhood.This problem started when these"criminals who assault other individuals"were young. They respect NO ONE, they serve only Themselves.Poor parental guidance or no Guidance at all.Maybe letting little kids play violent video games or watch t.v shows, movies that desensitize their minds.The garbage some call R & B or rap taints minds,distorts rolls as young men & women.The trash in weighs more than the GOOD in.You have heard "Trash in Trash out." Acting out less than acceptable social behavior. Just look how they present themselves?Clothing says a lot about how you hold yourself or others.They are deviant & Violent offenders.Sadly more than a one time stint In some cases as we have seen w/ robberies,drug abuse,MURDER, crimes against humanity, women, children even animals. WHY DO YOU THINK THESE FOLKS ARE like this? Do you think that morals are bankrupt? Why do we Punish those who follow rules & regulations? Is it to make a "level playing field" for those who have not?Starts at the Top Sal, where ever that may be.Whether w/their Heavenly Father or no Father at all. Earthly parents, Government officials, Education system?Perhaps we've spared the rod too much,now we have a bunch of spoiled criminals running loose in our land.So 1/2 of what you stated is true.What are we gonna do about it?Garbage in...garbage out!
Dot Keastead
1:58 am on Monday, January 7, 2013
What is the update on all these murders!
Tom Coombe
9:45 am on Monday, January 7, 2013
Dot: I've edited the story to provide the most recent information about each case.
Ronnie DelBacco
7:31 am on Monday, January 7, 2013
"Cleaner and Safer"...remember Panto's campaign slogan?
Keep pushing for more gun restrictions so the criminals will know the law abiding citizens are even more 'restricted' in defense against crime.
When is "cleaner and safer" going to really kick in? Perhaps this term mayor?
Amend Wun
9:17 am on Monday, January 7, 2013
How would having more guns on the street have made these murders any less likely? Seems they were motivated by individuals involved in criminal activity against others also involved in criminal activity, and by those who were in possession of guns illegal, save for the stabbing. Using these homicides as leverage for a pro-gun agenda seems backwards when stricter access would seem the more logical answer considering that illegal possession of guns was at the core of the crime.
Ronnie DelBacco
10:14 am on Monday, January 7, 2013
Amend,
Using these crimes to push for more gun laws is just as backwards. Restricting access will only affect those who FOLLOW LAWS. Criminals will not give two craps about another gun law. It's only a matter of time before an innocent, not involved with the criminals knowing each other, is a victim.
States with the least restrictive gun laws have the lowest amount of gun crime. State with the most restrictive gun laws have the highest amount of gun crime. Cities too! Chicago is a prime example...more murders with guns than any other city, and Chicago has extremely restrictive gun laws.
Criminals seek out areas where they know their potential victims are unarmed.
Amend Wun
10:29 am on Monday, January 7, 2013
@Ronnie- I don't recall having advocated for more gun laws specifically. I said stricter access is needed. If there are indeed laws on the books to limit access to firearms to irresponsible people, it seems obvious that those existing laws aren't being adequately enforced. Like I keep saying, it's too easy for irresponsible people to obtain firearms illegally. No responsible gun owner should be against limiting access to those who aren't responsible enough to possess one. As to your examples, there's no real evidence to back up the correlation you've stated. It's simply an anecdotal observation. To the same point, there was a recent study that has determined that states with "stand your ground" laws have experienced increases in homicides since the law was enacted. That evidences defies tgh logic that more guns reduces crime.
Ronnie DelBacco
10:38 am on Monday, January 7, 2013
Amend, The "stand your ground" cases of homicide are largely the bad guys getting shot by the good guys "standing their ground". Prove me wrong.
Would you prefer a "run and hide" policy? Good luck with that. You'll get shot in the back as you run away.
Existing laws or new laws DON'T stop a criminal from committing a crime. If they want a gun they'll get a gun. If they want a 30 round capacity magazine, they'll get one. Only law abiding citizens will obey new laws and further restrict their capabilities to defend against criminals who don't follow these laws.
Aurora and Sandy Hook did not occur with illegal guns. The laws in place did not stop the criminals. Of the seven theaters surrounding the Aurora incident, the criminal chose the ONE theater that did not permit concealed carry. Look it up.
Amend Wun
11:02 am on Monday, January 7, 2013
You're convaluting the discussion. This thread concerns homicides in Easton, of which the vast majority were committed by those who had illegal guns. That's the issue I was discussing, not aurora or sandy hook. For some reason, you equate restricting gun ownership to responsible individuals as a "run and hide" stance and that there is little that can be done to limit how many illegal guns are out there, that the only real solution is arming everyone regardless of their ability to possess one responsible. That's just assinine. As for the results of the stand your ground study, here's a link to a recent story. It doesn't condemn the law so much as it states that it's end effect is more of a legal free-for-all on violent response to situations that wouldn't have otherwise been brought to that end. Clearly tho, the law isn't about good guys killing just bad guys.
http://www.npr.org/2013/01/02/167984117/-stand-your-ground-linked-to-increase-in-homicide
Ronnie DelBacco
11:12 am on Monday, January 7, 2013
Amend, It's hard to not cross over to other related areas of discussion when talking about gun control. (You once said something similar to me regarding another conversation)
The bottom line on Easton is this; Criminals will get guns if they want guns, in Easton or wherever. If the criminals are shooting each other with illegal guns it has little affect on law abiding citizens. Unless, new laws designed to restrict guns, ammo, and magazines to criminals only really affects law abiding citizens who want those items for self defense, target shooting, or simply because it is their constitutional right.
Though I pick on the mayor for his cleaner and safer slogan, the truth is that he is powerless to stop a crime from happening no matter what his laws says.
A strong police presence on foot regularly patrolling the problem areas will be a better deterrent for criminals than any new gun laws will.