Credit: Joseph Kaczmarek/ AP
A total reward of $110,000 has been offered to anyone who can lead authorities to the two men responsible for a carjacking that left three children dead and injured three adults Friday in Philadelphia.
Tragedy struck a North Philadelphia neighborhood when the carjacking took the lives of the children who were selling fruit to benefit their church.
The suspects fled on foot after the accident causing the police to launch a massive manhunt for the two men.
The suspects were taking a turn at high speeds when a tire on the SUV blew out, causing the vehicle to lose control and ram into the fruit sale.
The victims were 10-year-old Thomas Reed, 15-year-old Keiearra Williams and 7-year-old Terrence Williams. All three of the children were siblings.
Their mother, 34-year-old Keisha Williams, was critically injured along with another woman who was helping with the fruit sale and the carjacking victim.
Now authorities are eager to find the men responsible.
“Three innocent children had their lives taken,” Homicide Capt. James Clark said.
The city has offered a $100,000 reward for information leading to the suspects’ arrest, and The Fraternal Order of Police offered another $10,000 if the men are arrested by noon Monday.
Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey was at a loss for words about the incident.
“There are no words to describe how I feel right now,” Ramsey said. “But we do need to find these two guys.”
Credit: WPVI-TV
The suspects were seen fleeing on foot after the crash and were described as one African-American man in a white shirt and a Hispanic man in a white shirt.
Neighbors who knew the three children and their family made it clear that this will impact the entire community.
Neighbor Joyce Fisher said the family took great pride in their garden, and even the first tomato of the season was a reason to celebrate.
“To see the garden there, and the gate not open – not to see them there – it’s hard,” Fisher said.
Another neighbor, Jacquita Kelsey, told The Associated Press that the family had lived there for three years and always seemed happy.
“I can see [Keisha] on the steps of her house, and Terrence in the doorway, saying ‘Hi, Miss Jackie,’ ” Kelsey said. “I’d say, ‘Look at her and her little ducklings.’ She was always with the kids.”
According to Philly.com, authorities have had several good tips but no concrete leads.
