After being shot numerous times in the city’s Ogontz neighbourhood on Monday night, a teen from Philadelphia has passed away.
Jeremiah Wilcox, 13, has been named as the victim.
It happened in the 6500 block of North Smedley Street around 6:45 o’clock.
“It’s just something that we just may never really truly heal from, honestly. I know I may not,” said Wilcox’s cousin, Isaiah.
“He was very, very funny – honestly, the funniest person I know. He was into sports, loved to play games,” he continued.
Now his concern is for Jeremiah’s 5-year-old sister.
“She thinks that he’ll just come back today or tomorrow. She doesn’t even understand the severity of the situation,” Isaiah said.
Jeremiah Wilcox, 13 was murdered last night.
His cousin most concerned for Jeremiah’s 5 y.o. sister, “She thinks that he’ll just come back today or tomorrow. She doesn’t even understand the severity of the situation”
The 8th grader described as funny, sports obsessed @6abc pic.twitter.com/LP91xl1OQ0— Maggie Kent (@MaggieKent6abc) October 11, 2022
The circumstances surrounding the killing are still being looked into, but according to information provided to police, the eighth-grader from Wagner Middle School was hanging out with pals at the crossroads when he was shot multiple times in the head and face.
Wilcox was discovered on the sidewalk by arriving officers, who transported him to Einstein Medical Center where he was later pronounced dead.
In this case, police are attempting to obtain a description of the gunman or shooters.
Police are asking anyone with information on the incident to contact them at 215-686-TIPS.
As of Tuesday night at midnight, there have been 416 killings in the city of Philadelphia, according to data from the police department.
Despite being three percent lower than at the same time last year, that is still high when compared to past years. For instance, at the same time in 2019 there were 266 homicides.
Activist Jamal Johnson with “Stop Killing Us” protests at murder scenes across the city, almost daily.
We asked, “What can be done today? Or this week?”
“Come out and sit on your step. That’s the first actionable step you can do right now. Be present in your community,” replied Johnson.
“We’re not certain if he was struck by stray gunfire – but who and why someone would shoot a teenager intentionally, it’s unknown why someone would do that to someone so young,” Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small said.