‘When am I allowed to be weak?' Philly mom mourns a 2nd son lost to gun violence

Friends and family gathered in Philadelphia’s East Mount Airy on Wednesday night to remember a man shot and killed earlier this week inside a bar.

A vigil was held near Stenton and Mount Pleasant avenues — just feet from the Uptown Cafe, where 38-year-old Kenneth Singleton was killed Monday night.

“We lift up our hearts for Kenneth, affectionately known as Scooter, who was taken from us. He was taken from us,” one speaker said.

Among the people who gathered to honor Singleton’s life was his mother, Lisa Dixon, who spoke about her loss.

“I want to say I’m about love even with all that I go through. My baby boy who got killed, I embrace love,” Dixon said.

Police believe the shooting stemmed from a fight inside the bar. No arrests have been made.

For Dixon, the pain is compounded. She said this is the second child she has lost to gun violence. Four years ago, another son, Brandon Dixon, was shot and killed about a half-mile away.

“I don’t want nobody else to go through the pain that I’m going through because it hurts real bad,” she said. “They say, Lisa you’re strong. But damn when am I allowed to be weak.”

Despite her grief, Lisa Dixon was surrounded by a wide show of support, including community members and political leaders.

Pennsylvania Sen. Sharif Street said he knew Singleton as “Scooter.”

“When I heard about it, I heard the name Kenneth, but it didn’t click. And then I talked to chief and he said Scooter was killed, and it just hit me,” Street said.

Dixon said the support has been overwhelming, but she is also calling for action.

“It’s overwhelming for me right now. But I’m grateful and glad everybody is here supporting me,” she said. “But not only do I want you to support me, let’s go out into the streets and march.”

Police are offering a $20,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest and conviction in the case.

Anyone with any information on the incident is urged to contact the Philadelphia Police Department at 215-686-TIPS (8477) or anonymously online here.

This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC Philadelphia. AI tools helped convert the story to a digital article, and an NBC Philadelphia journalist edited the article for publication.