First, my heart goes out to the family of Walter Wallace Jr. My heart breaks for his parents and all of his loved ones.

No one should ever have to face the immense tragedy and grief that they are grappling with today.

We must address the systemic problems that cause tragedies against people of color.

Be it education, gun violence, public health, or the need for additional criminal justice and police reform, too many of our societal challenges affect people of color disproportionately, leading to conflict and violence.

We need to do more to provide mental health support when families are in crisis.

Families and police officers are put in impossible situations, and this cannot occur, again, for the safety and security of our communities.

My administration has been in constant contact with the Mayor's office, and will be ready to assist with requests, when they are made, to keep the focus on our deep-seeded challenges, and avoid unnecessary harm to businesses that provide services to affected neighborhoods.

At the same time, we anticipate and expect a thorough investigation into this tragedy.
 
My thoughts are with all of the people of Philadelphia — from Walter's family, friends, and neighbors, to our officers and first responders.

Let's keep each other safe.