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Prosecutors Recover Guns as Philadelphia Homicides Hit Decades Low

8/20/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Prosecutors in the Graham case recovered multiple guns and ammunition from the suspects’ apartment.
Delaware County Prosecuting Attorney Eric Hoffman warned that teenage access to firearms creates community danger.
Philadelphia prosecutors built the Williams-Dini case on surveillance video, cell-phone location data, and digital records.
Philadelphia homicide rates fell about 18% from the previous year, reaching a decades-long low.

History

Historical Context

Following the 1989 Stockton school shooting, Congress enacted the Federal Assault Weapons Ban on August 25 1994, signed by President Bill Clinton on September 13 1994, imposing a ten-year prohibition on newly manufactured semi-automatic rifles. The ban expired on September 13 2004. Today, Philadelphia prosecutor Eric Hoffman leverages seized firearms and digital data to block teen access, echoing the original restriction.

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Story summary

Prosecutors in the Graham case recovered multiple guns and ammunition from the suspects’ apartment.
Delaware County Prosecuting Attorney Eric Hoffman warned that teenage access to firearms creates community danger.
Philadelphia prosecutors built the Williams-Dini case on surveillance video, cell-phone location data, and digital records.
Philadelphia homicide rates fell about 18% from the previous year, reaching a decades-long low.

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