The following commentary is in response to a fatal shooting early Saturday morning near 49th and Springfield. The author, Renee Tapp, is concerned about the horrific crime and what she perceives as apathy among residents.

On Friday night I awoke to guns shots and by the time I looked out of my bedroom window, a crime scene had been established by the police. After reaching out to the community through West Philly Local about the constant violence occurring on the Springfield corridor, I was shocked by the lack of interest or response from the readership of this blog.

It is my concern that this neighborhood is only interested in crime that happens to members of the community. At this time, I understand there is only a limited amount of information to share, however I worry that the readership has been able to dismiss this crime because the victim wasn’t from our neighborhood. For me, it does not matter where the victim is from, but rather someone perceived our neighborhood as an acceptable place to commit murder.

A human being was killed outside my house on Friday. Either direction on Springfield Ave resonates with the aftermath of a tragedy. As November begins, I am forced to ask, how much has changed since the rape and robbery near Springfield in September? I do not feel more safe now than I did then.

I would hope that the problem solving that has been so prominent on the blog in the last few days addressing non-crime issues, such as dogs off leash, can extend to addressing the on-going crime in our community. Or perhaps, we should continue to ignore these persistent problems until it is one of us, and then feign shock at how this could possibly be.

UPDATE: A commenter helped clarify this story. A jury found Thomas not guilty of the murder charge on Sept. 13, which explains why he was free. We should have done a little more homework before we speculated on that.

Police say the man fatally shot near 49th and Springfield early Saturday morning was 26-year-old Maki Thomas, who was arrested last year in connection with a 2001 murder.

Thomas, who was connected with home addresses in the Overbrook section and the 4100 block of Cambridge St., reportedly called police on a cell phone at about 1:10 a.m. after he had been shot in the head and neck. Police arrived to find Thomas unconscious at the wheel of a Nissan Maxima, which was still running. He was pronounced dead at 1:23 a.m.

Thomas was arrested in April 2010 in connection with the March 2001 murder of Quentin Armstrong in front of a deli at 52nd and Warrington. Police had been looking for Thomas for years and almost had him in 2009 when he used his real name to check into a Haverford medical facility to reportedly get a gunshot wound treated. He fled before police arrived.

Police caught Thomas when he was detained at an Atlantic City casino for trying to pass counterfeit bills.

A parrot was found on the 4700 block of Larchwood Ave. on Friday. If you think this is your pet please call 215-221-2129 with description.

Update: Detective Joseph Murray of Southwest Detectives reports that a man was shot and killed inside of a vehicle in front of 4915 Springfield Avenue around 1:10 a.m. The man was from the 4100 block of Girard Ave. Motive is unknown right now.

A neighbor reports that early Saturday morning, around 1 a.m., he heard about five shots fired at the corner of 49th and Springfield and there was a huge police presence shortly after that. Upwards of a dozen police cars showed up and half of the block west of 49th was closed off with tape, the neighbor said.

Can you imagine fall without pumpkins? Another fun-filled pumpkin-centered event is happening this Sunday, Nov. 6, from 1 – 4 p.m. Community members and their families and friends are invited to celebrate the Autumn season during the annual Pumpkin Day at Clark Park (43rd & Chester Ave.). This is a free event featuring pumpkin decorating, face painting, fall crafts, prizes, and snacks. Families and children are especially welcome.

The event is hosted by the Vineyard Community Church – West Philly. If you would like to volunteer please email Erica Cheslock at echeslock[at]juno.com.

Sharon Salzberg, a nationally renowned meditation teacher and author is coming to the Calvary Center for Culture and Community (48th & Baltimore) next week to present a talk and a meditation retreat. The talk will take place on Friday, Nov. 11, from 8 – 10 p.m., and the day-long retreat will be held on Saturday, Nov. 12, from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Sharon has played a crucial role in bringing Asian meditation practices to the West and has been leading meditation retreats around the world for over three decades. She’s the author of The New York Times best seller “Real Happiness.”

On Friday Sharon will introduce the principles of meditation and provide a basic understanding of the practice. Saturday’s program will explore the tools of meditation in greater depth, and include meditation practice and discussion. Both days will feature guided meditations, talks, and allow time for questions and answers. Both new and experienced meditators are welcome.

Tickets are $20/Friday, $75/Sunday, $90/both. You can register online here, or by phone: 215-238-0989. A portion of proceeds will go to the Children’s Community School.