NJ NAACP Official Seeks Public's Help Finding Suspect In Son's Murder
By Cherri Gregg
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Philadelphia police have identified a suspect in the January killing of the son of a Gloucester County NAACP official.
Wilfredo Rojas is one of the Vice Presidents of the NAACP of Gloucester County, New Jersey. The self-described community activist spent more than two decades working in Philadelphia prisons as a social worker.
He says he helped prisoners re-enter society and received honors for mentoring young people whose parents were in prison. But last month, Rojas' son, Alejandro "Luchi" Rojas-Garcia, became a victim of murder.
"My son was a very compassionate individual and a very friendly individual," says Rojas. "He loved human beings, he loved animals. I didn't know anyone who didn't like my son."
The 34-year-old father of two was gunned down outside of A Lounge Social Club in Feltonville on January 24th.
"When I got the phone call, I just lost it," says Rojas.
Rojas says Garcia was out celebrating that night:
"He was celebrating because he'd made the honor roll at Temple University and he had been honored by CCP when Justice Alito came to visit."
Police found Garcia shot multiple times in the face and torso in the 4200 block of Macalest Street. They have identified 25-year-old Leonaldo Rivera as a person of interest in the case.
On Friday, officers released Rivera's mug shot and word of a $20,000 reward. And now Rojas is hoping his community work will encourage the public to help:
"Step up the same way I stepped up when you would call the prisons about your loved one. I'm asking you to help me get justice for my loved one."
Leonaldo Rivera
Police say Rivera should be considered armed and dangerous.
Aleida Garcia, Alexjandro's mother, offered this plea:
"My son is dead and he is not enjoying his freedom. This person needs to come to justice and lose his freedom too."
But Aleida says she does not want the tragedy of her son's death to overshadow the positive life that he lived:
"What you hear about is the bad stuff, the negative stuff," she says, "my son was out there trying to be positive."
If you have any information, contact the Philadelphia Homicide Division at 215-686-3334.
