http://www.philly.com/philly/news/police-shooting-death-spring-garden-activist-20170909.html

Philadelphia police have arrested two brothers in the shooting death of Spring Garden community activist Gerard Grandzol. Maurice Roberts, 21, of Philadelphia, and his 16-year-old brother are in custody, police said. Police said the teen, formally identified Monday as Marvin Roberts, was the shooter and has been charged as an adult with murder, robbery, carjacking and related offenses. Grandzol, 38, was shot outside his Melon Street residence at about 8 p.m. Thursday. A well-loved community member and family man, Grandzol was approached by two males who took his wallet, according to police. When asked to hand over his car keys, Grandzol did not resist, police said Saturday night, but wanted to get his 2-year-old daughter out of the car. It appeared at least the younger Roberts may have felt Grandzol wasn’t moving fast enough, police said. “The 16-year-old just stepped up to Mr. Grandzol and shot him twice in the head,” Ryan said. Police said Grandzol was shot twice in the face at point-blank range, in front of his daughter, who was still in the vehicle. Friends and neighbors, in the immediate aftermath of the shooting, were reeling in shock and grief at the slaying of a man described by City Council President Darrell L. Clarke as “the go-to guy in that community.” Police Chief Inspector James Kelly, at Saturday’s briefing, offered his condolences to the Grandzol family. This is a slaying, he said, that “really pulls at the heartstrings. It’s the senseless slaying of a father in front of his 2-year-old daughter. That shouldn’t happen. That shouldn’t happen to any family anywhere.”

Commentary by David Cohensteinberg

What a tragedy for so many people.

Especially these two African-America brothers. They are going to have to spend the rest of their lives in prison for making a poor decision.

Honestly, I’m really surprised that the 16-year-old who shot Mr Grandzol in the face twice at point blank range in front of his daughter is being charged as an adult. He’s just a boy.

I’m sure he just got scared when Mr Grandzol “wasn’t moving fast enough” and accidentally pulled the trigger twice. If you ask him, I guarantee he’ll tell you he didn’t mean to do it. That it was an accident. He’ll probably even start crying cause he feels so bad about it.

If he were to be charged as a juvenile, he could be out of prison by age 21. Then he could become a rapper or basketball player and be an influence to the youth in the community. And not be a burden to taxpayers for the next 60 years.

Another important issue is race. Mr Grandzol is a successful white man. As well as husband and father. And since he was murdered by African-Americans, the racists will come out of the woodwork. Although they never say a thing when African-Americans kill African-Americans. They could care less about that. Because it has doesn’t affect them.

White America has this misconceived notion that African-American males commit a disproportionate amount of violent crime. Particularly black-on-white crime.

Statistically speaking, this is true. African-American males make up about 6% of the U.S. population, yet commit over 50% of all murders. And, yes, roughly 90% of interracial crime is black-on-white. But that’s mostly because of the N word.

But more importantly, look at the people who bring up those kind of statistics. They’re always white racists who use facts, figures and data to support their racism. But for some reason, white racists can’t seem to understand that facts, figures and data are racist.

White racists can’t comprehend the reality of their invisible knapsack full of white privilege. Or the school-to-prison pipeline in the African-American community. Or the trauma associated with slavery. Or being referred to as the N word (except in rap music).

They only see facts, figures and data, which makes them blind to the realities of racism. You can’t comprehend racism with facts, figures and data. You just can’t.

So, just remember. The next time you see someone citing facts, figures and data regarding race, remind them that they’re just racist.