$5,000 Reward Offered For Information In Shooting Of 11-Month-Old Baby In Hunting Park
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - The Philadelphia Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 5 is offering a $5,000 reward for any information leading to the arrest of a suspect wanted in connection to a shooting that critically injured an 11-month-old baby in the city's Hunting Park neighborhood. The shooting happened on the 700 block of West Luzerne Street, around 8 p.m. Saturday.
Police say the boy was riding with his stepmother when shots were fired.
The woman tells police she heard gunshots but kept driving until she reached home, about nine minutes later. When she took the baby out, police say she noticed he was shot once in the head and chest and twice in the back.
The baby was rushed to the hospital in critical condition.
"This incident is simply head-scratching," said FOP Lodge 5 President, John McNesby. "Somebody has information that can lead to an arrest in this reckless shooting and we're asking those individuals to come forward with information to help close this case."
The shooting remains under investigation.
The shooting occurred a day before a 2-year-old girl was killed in a triple shooting in the city's Kensington section.
Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney released a statement Sunday night about the two shootings.
"I am outraged, disgusted, and heartbroken by the violence this weekend that claimed the life of an innocent 2-year-old and left another infant fighting for his life. My prayers are with their families and communities during this tragic time.
"Philadelphians should not live in fear of violence that could take away a child's life, but for too many this is a sad reality. With the flow of illegal guns and drugs unabated, we must do whatever we can locally to help address this issue. Our administration will have teams in the neighborhoods impacted by this weekend's violence to provide the resources available, specifically trauma-informed care, and the Police Department is conducting a full investigation and will have whatever resources they need to bring these perpetrators to justice.
"I urge the public to come forward and report any information they have about these and other instances of violence. The anonymous tip line is 215-686-TIPS.
"This is not who we are, this is not what defines our city, and we must work together to create a safer city for us all."
Tipsters can call Philadelphia police at 215-686-TIPS or East Detectives, 215-686-3243.
