Nearly Mugged and Plugged in Philly - City of Brotherly Love? I Think Not!

City of Brotherly Love... PAH! In 2010 I almost got mugged and I was shot at while walking through the wrong neighborhood after dark.

I was attending the St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philly and was taking a class on public speaking. The Priest who taught the class invited a radio talk show host to come to the Seminary to give a talk on public speaking. Fr. D. scheduled the class at 8pm. Since it was so late, I knew that there were a few things that I needed to get in order before going to the class. Our monastery was about 7 blocks away from the Seminary and while we walked there everyday, it was sorta safe in the afternoon and morning.. but in the evening we knew that Philly was more than a little dangerous in the neighborhood in which we lived.

I went home to my superior after classes had ended and I spoke to him about the night class. He told me that unfortunately the other brothers and Priests were out on assignment for the night.. and had taken all 3 cars.. so I would have to walk to class. He recommended that I find someone that would walk with me. We were told that if we had to go out at night.. to go in pairs.. safety was in numbers. I went around.. and knocked on plenty of doors in our house.. all the brothers were busy with studying. No one could go up with me. My apprehension was growing. There was one brother that was down at the Church.. and he might be free, is what I thought. I checked with him.. and he had an assignment that night. I knew that I had to go it alone.

After evening prayers and rushed through dinner and then asked permission to leave a little earlier. I went into my room and adjusted my suit and tie, I remember looking into the mirror and worrying about the walk as I planned out my route in my minds eye. I picked up my book bag and slung it over my shoulder and began my journey. As I opened the front door, a blast of icy cold air hit me in the face, I walked off into the darkness not knowing what was in store for me. If I had any idea of the encounter I was about to have.. I would have stayed holed up in my room!

I tried to stick to the sidewalks that were lit, but being in the area I was walking that was few and far between. I passed a few rough people and then had to cross over through a short walk through a park, it would save me about 4 mins of walking, so into the pitch black I went. I saw a bright light coming into view and heard the all too familiar 'thump thump thump' of a low flying helicopter and for about 10 seconds .. I was being lit up with a bright beam from the police helicopter spot light. They quickly moved on and I continued on my way, creeped out by that strange encounter. After I exited the park, I was now only a few blocks from the Seminary. I had about a block to walk before crossing the street and then beginning the long walk up the sidewalk to St. Charles, which was at least another 2 blocks walk. As I neared the intersection, I heard load rap music playing as a car pulled up beside me. It was an old LTD, which is a former police car.

I began to walk a little quicker and the car kept pace with me. They were making crude jokes about and yelling things like "Yo, who dis #$@%#", "Who the F$& do you think you are?", "Get the F#$% out of here whitey!!" and other really crude things. I saw the light approaching and to my horror.. it was turning red. So they were right beside me. I took my chance as I gripped my book bag shoulder straps and I quickly ran out in front of their car and ran across 4 lanes of traffic and made a dash for it. I slowed down.. thinking that they were stuck at the light and I had made a clean escape. Much to my horror, I heard horns blaring and looked over my shoulder as I saw them cut across the traffic and gun the car up to me at which point they slammed into the curb right in front of me, half way up on the side walk. Four guys jumped out, as that was going on.. I knew I was in trouble. I felt this power rush of adrenaline kick into gear and I took off running up the hill towards the Seminary. I ran as fast as I could, I could hear the guys running behind me and that is when.. I heard the most shocking part of this.. A loud "Pop, Pop, Pop, Pop, Pop". And I could literally hear bullets whizzing through the air.. I started to zig zag as I ran. I saw the gate to the Seminary getting closer and as I ran through the security gate.. I collapsed on the ground in exhaustion. The guard ran to the gate and by that time..the guys were gone.

After getting up.. I stumbled to the class.. exhausted, shaking, perspiring, and a terrible fear of the return walk home. At the end of class, I tried to get a ride home.. but everyone was busy. I had to walk back by myself at 10pm est. =( I was scared out of my mind.. but I made it.. this time taking a little different route that kept me towards nicer neighborhoods.. but took longer to walk. That experience was the closest I have ever been to getting mugged.