Killadelphia officials looking for ideas

As investigators searched for clues in the rain following a double homicide in West Philadelphia early yesterday morning, Mayor Street and Police Commissioner Sylvester M. Johnson huddled in City Hall with other high-ranking officials, talking about the problem.

The number of homicides surged last year, with 380 people killed - the most since 1997, when more than 400 people were killed. This year has had a bloody start, with 18 people killed in the first 18 days.

Johnson and Street have been talking about reversing the trend since last year, when the rising murder rate resulted in negative headlines.