Star Track Athlete Who Had Scholarship To Penn State Killed In West Oak Lane Shooting
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PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Friends and coaches are mourning the death of 18-year-old Kristian Marche, a star track and field athlete, who was gunned down just a day before heading to the Pennsylvania State University on a scholarship.
"He was a good kid, on his way to a great education and future and someone in an act of cowardice just cuts him down," said Jack Duncan, who mentored Marche as part of the organization Focused Athletics.
The organization helps inner-city student athletes with academics, athletics, and professional development.
Philadelphia police say just after 9:30 p.m. Monday, a gunman shot Marche in the head in the teen's back driveway on the 1800 block of East Pastorius Street in West Oak Lane.
Homicide Lt. Norman Davenport says so far, investigators have no suspects, no motive, and no murder weapon.
"It is more than just thoughts and prayers needed at this time. We need information, we need evidence, we need witnesses to come forward," Davenport said.
The Imhotep Charter graduate made a name for himself both on the track and on the football field, says Duncan.
"He did everything right and for it to end up like this is really frustrating and kind of heartbreaking," he said.
The teen even spent a day shadowing a dentist at the University of Pennsylvania dental school.
"We always ask the kids 'what do you want to be if you could be anything' and he said, 'I want to be a dentist,'" he said.
Now, Marche's loved ones say gun violence has to stop.
"It's disgusting. We're better than this as people, as human beings — it's got to end," said Duncan.
Marche scored a 1060 on the SAT, the highest in his class of Focused Athletics peers. The organization is launching the Kristian Marche scholarship fund for the highest scoring SAT student to keep his memory alive.
If you have any information on this homicide, call Philadelphia police at 215-686-TIPS.
