To the Temple community:

We are deeply saddened to inform you of the tragic death of senior Samuel Collington. Samuel, 21, of Delaware County, suffered fatal gunshot wounds in an off-campus incident on Sunday afternoon. This attack, which occurred at the 2200 block of Park Avenue, north of Susquehanna, only further highlights the senseless gun violence that continues to grip the city of Philadelphia.

We mourn the loss of a bright and thriving political science student, and share in the wrenching grief of his family and friends. Samuel was set to graduate this spring from the College of Liberal Arts, and already was succeeding in his field, interning as a Democracy Fellow with the city. This is a true tragedy in every sense of the word. As a father, this truly breaks my heart and is incomprehensible.

Gun violence continues to affect local communities, and especially young lives, across our city and our nation. We fully understand concerns about individual safety, especially at a time when Philadelphia, like so many other U.S. cities, has experienced a sharp increase in violent crime over the past year.

Senior university officials spoke with Mayor Kenney’s office today and we are intensifying our work with the city, community groups and the Philadelphia Police Department to further enhance safety in and around the Temple community. We will continue to communicate regarding these efforts and define our steps toward a solution to this terrible trend.

You recently received an email message regarding the steps Temple University is taking to ensure a safe campus environment. It also outlined some of the various actions being taken by other organizations.

We encourage students to seek support through Tuttleman Counseling Services, located at 1700 N. Broad St. For more information on services and hours of operation, call 215-204-7276 or visit the Tuttleman Counseling Services website.

We know that these thoughts, no matter how strongly felt, cannot repair their broken hearts—so it is with humility that we offer our deepest condolences to those who were closest to Samuel, especially his mother Molly and father Dennis.

Sincerely,

Charlie Leone
Executive Director, Public Safety