PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Police are investigating the death of a 12-year-old boy whose body was found wrapped in plastic inside a trash container.
Philadelphia Homicide Commander Ernest Ransome says sanitation workers found his body last Wednesday, Aug. 23, inside a plastic trash container near 55th and Cherry streets.
“The container overturned and the remains of a male were observed inside with a plastic wrap around the head with a comforter over him,” Ransome said.
Police say the boy had a gunshot wound to his head. They said they believe he was killed 24 to 36 hours before his body was discovered. The Medical Examiner's Office ruled the death a homicide following an examination.
Family members identified the victim as 12-year-old Hezekiah Bernard.
The family says Hezikiah was known to loved ones as “Hezzy.” His mom briefly spoke with KYW Newsradio over the phone and she said her son was a good boy, he was athletic, and he was well-loved.
Helping kids work through trauma
More than 600 kids gathered in West Philadelphia on Thursday to remember Hezekiah at an event organized by Level Up, a nonprofit that provides community services and food for kids in the area.
Level Up usually gathers on Tuesdays and Thursdays for a barbecue, but on this day, the kids gathered outside to release white and red balloons in memory of the boy.
Some of the kids hugged and cried afterward, and many of them said they knew Hezekiah well. They said he was well liked and described him as an excellent dancer.
“Only 12. He didn't really get to live his life. He didn't even get to … the teen years. And that's what's really sad about it. I don't know who would want to hurt him. He was so sweet,” said 16-year-old Miontai Eggleton.
Jyshair Montgomery, 16, said Hezekiah was like a little brother to him.
“It hurt us real bad, but it's like we just to face through it and to get on … and don't go back to the past, and go on with the future.”
The experience has been traumatic, “but we can't do nothing about it. He always gonna be in our heart, but it's like we just gotta get on with the future,” he said.
“Sometimes I just sit in the house, and I just sit back and think about it. I treated him like he was my own little brother. So it was like — damn, what is I'm supposed to do?”
Pastor Aaron Campbell said the balloon release helps kids mourn.
“Mourning is a part of life, but what happens when, with lack of guidance, lack of mentoring, you're not even channeled in how to mourn,” Campbell said. “Couple that with people who can name 10 friends, 15 friends, who have been killed.”
He says violence is too familiar to the children he works with.
“This is my fourth kid from my program who's been murdered since January,” he said. “It's my 19th kid — my 20th kid — who's been shot in the last 18 months.”
Police are looking for tips
Police are now asking for the help from the public to find who’s responsible.
“We need the help of the public to identify the offenders in this investigation. Again, Mr. Bernard was 12 years old. He was brutally killed and placed in a trash can.”
Anyone with information should call police. Tips can be submitted via phone or text at 215-686-8477 or online via this form.