Millions of merrymakers around the country greeted the New Year with a blend of revelry and reverence. But, as 2012 turned the corner into 2013, there was no shortage of violence.
Several slayings marred the New Year's revelry in many of the nation's cities. The count of the dead has not yet been fully calculated, but it is quite apparent from the cases already making headlines that there was an almost immediate succession of violence that came as Father Time passed on his duties to the Baby New Year.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA
The "City of Brotherly Love" could easily be christened the city of bloodshed following the events of early 2013.
Philly's first homicide occurred at about 12:30 a.m., when a 17-year-old boy was shot and killed. According to published reports, the shooting happened during an argument at a house party in West Philadelphia. No suspects in that case have been named.
Roughly two hours later, an unidentified man was shot and killed in the Frankford section of the city. Authorities suspect the shooting occurred after a fight.
A third shooting occurred in North Philadelphia at about 3 a.m. In that case three unidentified people were shot. One of the victims died at the hospital, according to police.
Philly police are also searching for a suspect in a hit-and-run death that occurred near Presidential Boulevard early Tuesday. The name of the victim, a white man in his 50's, was not immediately released. Police said the suspect vehicle is a silver sedan, possibly a Nissan, with significant front-end damage.
LANSING, MICHIGAN
The "Heart of Michigan" made it approximately two hours into the New Year before its first homicide.
According to Lansing police, one man died and four others were injured during a 2 a.m. fight at a north-side store. The fatality was a result of gun violence. Four others were injured and three of them are hospitalized in critical condition.
Authorities have not yet identified the victims. However, they are reportedly all local residents in their 20's. No arrests have been made.
CLEVELAND, OHIO
Cleveland's 1st homicide of the year happened at about 2:48 a.m., on the city's East Side.
According to Cleveland police, they discovered the victim’s body on the porch of a Hilgert Ave. residence after they responded to a call of shots fired.
The victim, according to the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner's office, is a black male. No further details have been released.
PUEBLO, COLORADO
An exchange of gunfire between an unidentified man and Pueblo police resulted in a death at about 3 a.m. Tuesday.
According to police, an officer was on patrol near 11th and Greenwood Ave., when he heard gunshots. The source of the gunfire led the officer to a suspicious vehicle and a pursuit ensued. The vehicle crashed a short distance down the road and several people reportedly exited the car and fled on foot.
One of the suspects shot and injured the police officer. The officer returned fire, but the suspected shooter managed to escape. A responding unit encountered the alleged gunman on a nearby highway and the suspect was shot and killed by police.
The officer who was shot is hospitalized in stable condition, according to local media reports.
No further details have been released.
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA
The "Crossroads of America" saw its first homicide victim of the New Year shortly before 5:30 a.m. Tuesday.
According to Indianapolis police, a passerby spotted the body of a man in the doorway of a duplex residence near North Tibbs Ave.
Authorities suspect the man was answering his door when he was shot and killed. The victim, identified only as a man in his 50's, was pronounced dead at the scene.
No suspects or persons of interest have been named.
AUGUSTA, GEORGIA
Augusta also recorded its first homicide on Tuesday morning.
Details remain sparse, but police say they discovered the body of Edward Yancey following a shooting in the parking lot at Club Fiasco at 2925 Peach Orchard Road.
Yancey, 21, died from an apparent gunshot wound, police said.
Investigators suspect the shooting was preceded by an argument that had initially occurred inside the establishment, but witnesses have reportedly indicated Yancey was an innocent bystander.
TO BE CONTINUED...
The above listed incidents are just a small snapshot of the violence that occurred around the country as American's wake up to 2013. A sum total of today's homicides – an unfortunate start to a fresh New Year -- have yet to be calculated and the count will no indubitably continue to rise steadily throughout the day.
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