A gun found at one school and a gun fired -- wounding two students -- at another, has local leaders and students discussing whether more can be done to prevent similar violent incidents from occurring in Philadelphia schools.

Students at local schools reacted to the incidents, many of them saying there just aren't enough security measures or counseling resources in place for students attending schools in Philadelphia.

"I think we should be able to talk out our feelings instead of letting it build up. I think that's why there's so much gun violence because they have no outlet to say how they feel or nobody to talk to," Central High School senior Bobbi Pough said.

Police say last Friday, accused gunman Raisheem Rochwell purchased a black handgun from former Delaware Valley Charter School student Donte Walker, who made his way into the school's building on Friday afternoon, bypassing a security check as a guest. Rochwell allegedly bought the gun because he feared being a target of an assault after school. The gun went off in the school gym, hitting a 17-year-old boy and an 18-year-old girl.

In a separate incident last week, students attending the Knowledge is Power Program's DuBois Collegiate Academy (KIPP) in the Parkside section of the city reportedly alerted school officials that one of their classmates had a gun in his bookbag. Police were later notified and took the teen into custody.

Some students, like Pough, say they've turned to community organizations for support. Pough says most of what she knows about conflict resolution she learned from her counselors at local community organization Bringing Everybody Together (Bet), a program she's been participating in for three years.

"All of the programs at Bet, like Perfect Gentlemen and Lady Bet, teach us to be positive and how to react positively in those kinds of situations,” Pough said.

Bet's founder, Richard Washington, said one of the organization's goals is to provide students with an 'extended family' of counselors and mentors that they can talk to in their time of need.

"Once children become a part of the program, they become a part of our extended family, where the kids may not necessarily talk to their parents, but they’ll talk to us because we make sure they know they definitely have someone they can go to," Washington said.

"Even with our youth council we take it a step further to give them additional training, and have them talk about violence in the city, and ask the kids to think about ways they can prevent violence."

Students also hinted at a desire for tougher security at schools, some even suggesting they'd welcome metal detectors being installed in the city's elementary schools.

"I think something like that could happen at our school because they have no metal detectors or nothing," Roosevelt Middle School 8th-grader Corey Gaskin said.

"It’s shocking and terrible, that all this is happening. I’m surprised it’s happening in schools," Roosevelt Middle School 7th-grader Shamor Findley said. "Sometimes, they don’t have metal detectors and people don’t check us when we come in, so anybody could just walk in. I’d feel safer if we had them.”

The Philadelphia School District voted to install metal detectors in all of its high schools back in 1999. Discussions over whether metal detectors should be placed in K-8 schools in the city have stalled, largely due to arguments that their presence still may not prevent people from getting guns into schools.

That argument could be supported by Friday's shooting, as someone was still able to get a gun into the Delaware Valley School even though the school had metal detectors in place.

Over the weekend, City Councilman Kenyatta Johnson launched the Neighborhood Task Force on Gun Violence and held a meeting with community leaders to discuss a new strategy called Focused Deterrence that would provide support for young people who are identified as shooters, as well as young shooting victims.

"The tragic incidents of school shootings and gun violence only stand to amplify the need for our communities to band together to address this catastrophic issue. Shootings involving young people in environments where they are supposed to be safe should be a major concern to all Philadelphians, and we need to act to make sure incidents like this don't happen again," Johnson said.

"The schools and the communities need to do a better job working together to address this comprehensively, and whether it's a public, private or charter school they need to develop a crisis intervention plan to proactively address the issues that are leading to the gun violence."

The task force will include leaders from several local organizations including Mothers in Charge, Unity in the Community, Philadelphia Parks and Recreation, Philadelphia R.I.S.E. and others. The group will hold meetings in neighborhoods throughout the city to discuss ways to address gun violence in communities and schools.

Kmart will close two Philadelphia stores this spring, affecting 289 employees.

Stores at The Gallery (901-99 Market St.) and at 900 Orthodox St. will close in late April, Howard Riefs, a spokesman for Kmart parent Sears Holdings Corp. (NASDAQ: SHLD), said.

Stores will begin liquidation on Feb. 9.

The Gallery store has 120 employees and Orthodox Street has 169 workers, Riefs said. Most are part-time, hourly workers.

Certain employees are eligible for severance, while others may be able to get jobs at other Kmart stores. Read more about this story on PBJ.com

More NBC10.com stories:

• Christie's Office Subpoenaed
• Oil Train Crashes Risk "Major Loss of Life"
• #NoSavesies in Snow

For more breaking business news go to PBJ.com

Chilling new surveillance video shows a young murder victim dying in her mother's arms after being shot in the Northern Liberties section of the city last Sunday, according to sources that have seen the video in its entirety. 

Amber Long, 26, was walking with her mother, Stephanie, 50, along the 900 block of Front Street around 10:35 p.m. when they were approached by two men. One of the men grabbed Stephanie's purse, the second grabbed Amber's.

Amber, who didn't put up much of a struggle, says Philadelphia Police Captain James Clark, was then shot in the chest at point-blank range.

New surveillance video released on Thursday only shows part of the controntation, enough, police hope, for someone to recognize the suspects.

"If someone knows these individuals, the way they walk, their mannerisms, the clothes they had on that night, anything, call the homicide unit," begs Captain Clark two days after releasing two men falsely identified as the suspects. "Right now, we need a lead."

Those who have seen the entire video, say it depicts the whole confrontation -- from the moment the men approached the duo to Amber laying limp in her mother's arms.

"This is one of the saddest videos I've seen," said Clark.

The suspects took off on foot following the shooting, but hopped into a dark-colored sedan not long after.

Amber Long was a Philadelphia University grad who was working as an architect for U.S. Contruction Inc. in Center City at the time of her senseless death.

"It's impossible to convey what a rising star this city lost," said Stephanie.

A $30,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrests and convictions of the suspects. The city is offering $20,000 with the remainder of the funds given by the Fraternal Order of Police.

Anyone with information should contact the Philadelphia Police.

 

New Jersey officials say the state has ended its relationship with the contractor hired to run a $745 million program to rebuild houses damaged or destroyed by Superstorm Sandy.

Community Affairs spokeswoman Lisa Ryan said Thursday that the state had "concluded our relationship" with New Orleans-based Hammerman and Gainer.
 
Cherie Pinac of HGI said the agreement to end the contract before May 2016 was mutual. Neither Pinac nor Ryan would comment on why the contract ended.
 
Under the program, homeowners can get up to $150,000 to pay for rebuilding costs not covered by insurance or other government programs.
 
The program's funding could not cover the demand. More than 15,000 homeowners applied. Of them, 2,400 were found to be ineligible, 5,100 received preliminary awards and about 7,000 were on a waitlist.

Police were left scratching there heads when two men stormed a salon, stuffed an employee into a trash can and took off...without the woman!

Authorities say that two men in long, black robes stormed into the Zoujati Salon on N. 6th Street in Camden Tuesday morning with a gun and a trash can.

What they did next is truly bizarre.

According to police, the suspects stuffed a female employee who was alone in the salon into the trash can, wheeled her outside and left her on the sidewalk.

One of the suspects hopped in a white Chevrolet Express 1500 Cargo van with tinted windows and a stolen Pennsylvania license plate - number JLJ 6784. The second took off around the block where he was met by his partner.

The van crossed the Ben Franklin Bridge into Philadelphia, police say.

"We've looked at this from every angle possible, but some things just leave you scratching your head," Camden Police Chief Scott Thompson told NBC10.
 
The victim was taken to Cooper University Hospital for treatment and released.

Nothing was taken from the salon.

If anyone has information on this incident, please call Camden Police at 856-757-7042
 

The daughter of April Kauffman, a radio host killed inside her Atlantic County home in 2012, is claiming her step-father is responsible for the murder and should not get insurance money he’s been fighting to receive, despite the fact he's never been charged with the crime.

In a federal legal filing submitted on Thursday, Kimberly Pack charges that Dr. James Kauffman, her step-father and April’s husband, is “responsible for the intentional killing” of the 47-year-old. The allegation is the first time anyone has been openly accused of April Kauffman’s death.

“I’ve purposefully tried to avoid talking about what happened, but now after being brought into this lawsuit, I have no choice [but] to respond and fight for what I know is right,” Pack said at press conference following the filing. “I can no longer sit back and allow, what I perceive is an injustice to occur. I know that my mom would not want me to sit back any longer.”

April Kauffman was well-known down the Jersey Shore as a radio personality at WOND 1400 AM. She was found shot to death inside the bedroom of her Linwood, N.J. home on May 10, 2012. The homicide investigation is on-going, but more than a year and half later no one has been arrested or charged. Prosecutors have been tight-lipped about the case and have said they were not considering the murder to be random.

Pack says she is speaking out now after being brought in to a civil lawsuit filed by James Kauffman, who has been attempting to collect the $600,000 in life insurance taken out by his former wife. Both Pack and her step-father are beneficiaries.

"This is nonsense," said Ed Jacobs, attorney for Dr. Kauffman. "Dr. Kauffman has lost his wife in the unsolved homicide. He's cooperated fully with the Atlantic County Prosecutor Office's investigation. Ms. Pack has been interviewed multiple times, multiple times over the course of the investigation and my client has never been charged."

James Kauffman asked to collect the money, which was broken across two policies administered by Transamerica Life Insurance, about three months after his wife’s death. Transamerica refused to pay out the cash because it had not received a copy of the police report in the case. The husband then sued for the money in June 2013.

A counterclaim, filed by Transamerica, said the insurance company needed to review a copy of the police report in the homicide before determining whether to pay out the policies.

“Determination on the payment of death claim benefits could not be made without first determining that plaintiff [Dr. James Kauffman] had no involvement with the death of the insured,” the counterclaim, filed in September 2013, said. “Transamerica, therefore is unable to determine whether plaintiff may have been responsible for the intentional killing of April Kauffman.”

Transamerica also filed papers to bring Pack into the case, since she is also a beneficiary of the insurance policies. Her attorney, Patrick D’Arcy, said Pack did not ask to be part of the case.

As part of her counterclaim filing on Thursday, Pack claims her step-father should be barred from collecting the insurance money under New Jersey’s “Slayer Statute.” The law prevents a person from benefitting financially from their own wrongdoing.

Pack has asked a federal judge to deny James Kauffman’s case and direct the insurance money to her.

“This is a very serious matter and I, along with my attorneys…have given careful consideration into what is at stake,” she said.

D’Arcy said his firm has conducted an investigation into the case and has set up a toll-free hotline, 844-DJD-TIPS, to collect tips about the on-going murder investigation. They have also set up a Facebook page.

“In the meantime, we look forward to the day when Dr. Kauffman is put under oath and asked the questions that everyone has wanted asked for two years,” D’Arcy said. “We will not rest until justice is served.”

Jacobs said since Pack made the claims, it'll be her burden to prove them in court. He characterized today's actions as "a fairly routine dispute over insurance monies. . .What this is about is money. Plain and simple," Jacobs said.

A spokeswoman with the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office said they cannot comment on the allegations citing the current investigation, which she says is open and on-going. The office also would not comment as to whether prosecutors would be contacting Pack about her new public claims.

Contact Vince Lattanzio at 610.668.5532, vince.lattanzio@nbcuni.com or follow @VinceLattanzio on Twitter.

A local organization has made possible the college aspirations of nearly 1,000 Philadelphia students. For that work over the past 25 years, Philadelphia Futures was recognized as a Champion in Action today.

Citizens Bank, NBC10, the Inquirer, the Daily News and Philly.com recognized Philadelphia Futures as the first 2014 Champion in Action in the category of youth programming. Philadelphia Futures will receive a $35,000 unrestricted grant, media coverage, and extensive promotional and volunteer support for its outstanding work.

Philadelphia Futures prepares first-generation-to-college low-income students to enter and succeed in college. The organization was founded in 1989 and merged with the White-Williams Scholars program in 2011. Nearly 900 students have benefitted from the organization's programs and the organization boasts a 98 percent matricuating on to college. 

"The program instilled in me the importance of hard work and taught me how to be driven and to never give up," said Amber Nichols, an alumnus of the program and graduate of Dickinson College. Nichols is pursuing a graduate degree at LaSalle University.

The award honors Philadelphia Futures for its efforts to help underserved students successfully make the journey to – and through – college. The grant will be used to support its new Outreach Futures initiative, which brings the organization’s expertise in college access to the broader Philadelphia community through programming and the publication and distribution of its Step Up to College Guide.

“Citizens Bank is pleased to name Philadelphia Futures as the newest Champion in Action for its work in youth programming,” said Dan Fitzpatrick, President, Citizens Bank, PA/NJ/DE. “By providing students with services and resources, including comprehensive college guidance, financial incentives and individualized staff support Philadelphia Futures is helping to fill a critical gap in the resources available to Philadelphia public school students in 2013-2014.”

Champions in Action is part of Citizens Helping Citizens Strengthen Communities, the bank’s program designed to enhance quality of life and economic vitality in local communities. It provides support for small nonprofit organizations to recognize their contributions throughout the five-county Philadelphia area. To date, the program has awarded 35 nonprofits more than $900,000 in grants and promotional support in Philadelphia.

“NBC10 and Telemundo 62 are pleased to let the community know about the important service Philadelphia Futures provides to area students,” said Eric Lerner, President and General Manager, NBC10 and Telemundo 62. “At a time in their lives when guidance and support is so critical, students can rely on programs like these to help them navigate the academic world and put them on a path to success.”

Philadelphia Futures executive director Joan C. Mazzotti said the need has never been greater for the students she serves dues to the budget crisis in Philadelphia schools and because there is more competition for less financial aid at some colleges.

"Without a college education, it becomes difficult to have economic independence," said Mazzotti. "There is nothing you can do that is more important than helping a child with their education and provide them with a level playing field."

Contact Sarah Glover at 610-668-5580, sarah.glover@nbcuni.com or follow @skyphoto on Twitter.

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia is preparing for a visit by the Holy Father, Pope Francis, but whether he will set foot in the city appears to based more on best intentions rather than certainty at the moment.

Citing Vatican sources, the National Catholic Reporter says the pope is planning to take part in the World Meeting of Families, which is being held in Philadelphia from Sept. 23-27, 2015.

Ken Gavin, a spokesman with the archdiocese, could not confirm that Pope Francis would be attending. However, he says Catholic officials are preparing as if he would be.

"The World Meeting of Families has traditionally been attended by the Holy Father," he said. "We are planning as if Pope Francis will be with us and have every hope that he will be with us."

In 2012, Francis' predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, announced his intentions to come to Philadelphia for the summit. However, so far, the newly elected pope has been tight lipped about his travel plans.

The World Meeting of Families is held every three years and focuses on finding ways to "stregnthen the sacred bonds of family across the globe," according to its website. The 2015 session will be the eighth gathering.

"The Archdiocese looks forward to staging this international event and showcasing our great City of Brotherly Love. It is a gift not only for Catholics but everyone in the Philadelphia region," Gavin said.

Philadelphia has about 1.5 million Catholics and the meeting alone is expected to bring thousands more from around the world to the city.

A visit by the pope, who has been seen as a reformer and more progressive on social issues like gays and divorce, could draw even more.

The last pope to visit Philadelphia was the late Pope John Paul II in 1979 when an estimated one million people attended his mass on the Ben Franklin Parkway.

Contact Vince Lattanzio at 610.668.5532, vince.lattanzio@nbcuni.com or follow @VinceLattanzio on Twitter.

A local math teacher and mother is accused of sending sexual photos and videos to one of her students, who she admitted to having sex with.

Lower Moreland High School math teacher Erica Ann Ginnetti, 33, turned herself in Friday morning after allegations arose earlier this month that the married mother of three had sex with a 17-year-old male student over the summer.

According to Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman, the relationship between Ginnetti and the student began in May when Ginnetti approached the boy at prom and asked him if he would like to work out at her gym. A few days later the boy allegedly emailed Ginnetti and she replied with her cell phone number.

Ferman said that after that the two communicated on a daily basis over several months. During that time, investigators say that Ginnetti sent a series of sexually-charged messages, including videos of herself undressing and performing sex acts on herself as well as “sexually-suggestive” photos of Ginnetti in her underwear and a bikini.

Investigators say the two met up at a coffee shop in July in Northeast Philadelphia. From there they went to a nearby industrial park and had sex in Ginnetti's car, according to the police report. Ginnetti then drove the teen back to the coffee shop, investigators say, and asked him not to tell anyone about the incident.

According to investigators, Ginnetti admitted to having sex with the teenage boy.

Lower Moreland police said they were tipped off last Wednesday via a phone line used for reporting possible abuses against children. The caller left a message saying they'd overhead students at the school talking about "inappropriate pictures of the minor and the teacher doing 'sexual things.'" Police then approached the 17-year-old who they say gave them a detailed account of how the relationship began and then evolved.

Ginnetti was arraigned Friday morning on 13 counts including sexual assault of a student, corruption of minors and disseminating obscene materials to a minor and released after posting $50,000 unsecured bail, according to court records.

As part of her bail conditions, Ginnetti is not permitted to have contact with any children except for her own kids -- ages 8, 11 and 14. She also must surrender her passport and will be electronically monitored.

According to her teaching page, Ginnetti taught AP Calculus, AP Statistics, Calculus and Honor Algebra at Lower Moreland.

In a statement, Lower Moreland Township School District Superintendent Dr. Marykay Feeley said that "as soon as the District became aware of the allegation, the teacher was placed on administrative leave."

"We are now moving swiftly to terminate her employment and will take all steps necessary to ensure the teacher does not teach again."

When Leanne Sharkey entered an inpatient rehab program in March, she was miserable.

“I hated the word,” she said. “I didn’t think I could be happy sober.”

But less than a year later the 35-year-old is clean and content, crediting a renewed love of cycling for her success.

Soon after Sharkey arrived at the Interim House in West Mount Airy to begin her residential treatment program, she started working with Gearing Up – a Philadelphia-based nonprofit that provides guidance to women transitioning from abuse, addiction or incarceration on safe cycling and bike maintenance techniques.

At first, Sharkey saw the program, which also works with the Joseph J. Peters Institute, the Gaudenzia Washington House, CHANCES, and the Riverside Correctional Facility, as a way to get out of the facility for a few hours and burn some energy.

But her outlook soon changed. "I started being more open to being in treatment. I was more relaxed," Sharkey said.

Having that outlet can aid in the recovery process, said Erin Goodhart, a clinical supervisor at Caron Treatment Center who specializes in women and addiction.

Getting outside and exercising is a good way to manage some of the symptoms associated with post-acute withdrawal, like irritability, difficulty regulating mood and difficulty with sleep, Goodhart said.

Sharkey, a self-described tomboy, hadn’t been on a bike since she was 18-years-old, but quickly attained Gearing Up’s 10-mile goal, receiving a water bottle for hitting the milestone.

“When you come from nothing and it just didn’t really feel like I deserved anything,” Sharkey said, “just having a water bottle that you earned is cool.”

The program has more incentives – like t-shirts - for participants as they increase their total biked mileage.

“We talk about self-efficacy a lot,” said Kristin Gavin, Gearing Up’s executive director.

Completing small objectives like riding up a hill or mastering how to use brakes shows participants they are capable of attaining goals, Gavin said.

“It reinforces the belief that you can accomplish things,” she said. “Those skills reinforce for women that they can get another day clean.”

In March, Sharkey will be free of drugs and alcohol for a year – a huge milestone for the cyclist who began doing drugs as a teenager.

“I wouldn't be sober if it wasn't for Gearing Up,” she said.

Women earn their own bike from the nonprofit once they tally 100 total miles from the group rides, which range from three to eight miles, Gavin said.

Of the approximately 350 women who enrolled in Gearing Up since it began in 2009, 85 have earned their own bike, she said.

Sharkey got her bike about 40 days after her first ride and has since moved on to a blue-and-silver Trek road bike. “It is my baby,” she said.

Aside from Sharkey’s love of cycling, Gavin was impressed by how quickly she embraced bike culture. “Leanne boldly dove into the women’s cycling community,” she said.

Sharkey began riding with Sturdy Girl Cycling while still living at Interim House and started working for Wash Cycle Laundry in August.

Immersing herself in the community likely played a key role in her recovery, Goodhart said. Women most often find themselves using and drinking in isolation since addiction can be shame-based for females, she said.

“If there is a healthy way for women to connect with other women -- that is great in helping in their recovery,” said Goodhart, who added forming those bonds in the first year of recovery increases their chances of staying sober.

“They have become like my second family,” Sharkey said.

“Women who are in recovery are often times looking for a way to connect to new people, places and things,” Gavin said. “And a bike does all of that.”

Sharkey, who secured her own apartment in October, rides year-round and logs nearly 30 hours biking for Wash Cycle Laundry each week.

“It is so neat to be out and be free and not have anything hold you back,” she said. “That sense of freedom.”

Contact Alison Burdo at 610.668.5635, alison.burdo@nbcuni.com or follow @NewsBurd on Twitter.

Vandals destroyed more than half a dozen statues of religious figures outside two South Jersey churches in a crime police are calling "heinous."

Six stone statues on the grounds of the Sacred Heart Church at 922 E. Landis Avenue in Vineland, N.J. were found defaced on Thursday morning, police told NBC10. The statues had either their faces chipped off, were beheaded or had arms chopped off.

A few hours later, police were called to the Divine Mercy Parish at 23 W. Chestnut Avenue where at least one statue was vandalized, officials said.

The damage at both churches is estimated at $16,000.

Vineland Police say the vandals are unknown and are asking for the public's help in finding those responsible. Anyone with information is asked to call 856.691.4111.

Detectives are searching for a brazen pair of robbers who are sticking up shops and restaurants in Southwest and West Philadelphia at gunpoint.

Five robberies have taken place over the past week, with three of them happening on Thursday night, Philadelphia Police say. All were captured by

The first hold up was at the Subway shop at 5601 Lancaster Avenue in West Philadelphia just before 6 p.m. on Jan. 18. The men, accompanied by two women, walked inside the restaurant, pulled out a gun and demanded money. The suspects then grabbed the cash from the register and ran.

Several hours later, the same men demanded money at the Hibachi Grill at 3000 Island Avenue in Southwest Philadelphia, police said. The robbery took place as staff and diners walked around inside.

On Thursday, one of the suspects went into the Golden Star pizza shop at 4627 Woodland Avenue in West Philadelphia around 10:30 p.m. and started asking about the menu.

Police say the man then told the worker "I am not about to lie to you! I am about to rob you" and then pulled out a handgun. When the worker said the store did not have any cash, the man ran out empty handed.

About 15 minutes later, police say the same man pointed a gun at the clerk inside the Garden Court Deli at 4725 Pine Street. The man shouted "give me the money," but when the woman behind the counter screamed, the man ran without the cash, police said.

At 11:17 p.m., about 30 minutes later, the suspect and the second man held up Stacey's Pizza at 4201 Market Street. This time the suspect walked in with the gun drawn and demanded cash. Once the register was opened, they took the cash from inside and ran.

Detectives believe both men are in their late teens, with thin builds and between 5-foot-4-inches and 5-foot-9-inches.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Philadelphia Police tipline at 215.686.TIPS.

A man was found shot to death inside a car parked along a Philadelphia street.

Philadelphia Police were called to the 5700 block of Weymouth Street in the Crescentville section of the city around 6:15 p.m. on Friday.

Once there, police say they found a 30-year-old man shot multiple times in the head in the driver's seat of a white Cadillac.

Homicide detectives say a motive is unclear at this time and that they do not have a description of a suspect.

NBC10 tried talking to neighbors about the crime, but not one would speak about what happened.

Police say they plan to release victim's name once the man's family is notified of his death.

The investigation is on-going.