PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Philadelphia police are on a manhunt for a 27-year-old they said killed two tow truck drivers over the last two months in the city's Northeast neighborhoods.
Najee Williams, 27, owns NKW Towing and is believed by authorities to be the gunman who killed David Garcia-Morales, 20, and Aaron Whitfield, 25.
The first incident occurred on Dec. 22, 2025, along Torresdale Avenue and Tackawanna Street just before 12:30 p.m. It was there that police found Garcia-Morales shot in the neck and thigh inside a 2017 Ford F-450 Super Duty. He was taken to a hospital and died the day after Christmas.
A few weeks later, on Jan. 11, police responded to Knorr Street, near Bustleton Avenue in the Oxford Circle neighborhood, and found Whitfield dead inside a tow truck. Police said he had multiple bullet wounds to his head and body. During that same incident, a 21-year-old woman was shot in the leg but survived.
Garcia-Morales was described as a kind, warm, beloved son, grandson, uncle and brother. Whitfield's loved ones said he was a beloved, "playful and hardworking" son.
A GoFundMe page has been set up in Whitfield's honor.
Donations will help pay for his funeral arrangements.
Deputy Police Commissioner Frank Vanore said both victims owned their tow trucks and that investigators believe there was a dispute between the companies.
"There are some very strict rules about tow trucks," said Vanore, who explained that police radio will go through a rotating list of tow companies to assign jobs.
"Many of these companies still try to do what we call wreck-chase, and go to the area where there is an incident, and many times that begins disputes over the business."
According to court records, Williams had a previous aggravated assault conviction, accused of shooting someone in 2019 while they were driving.
In addition, police believe Williams might be connected to another shooting from November. "It's still very active," said Vanore. "No one is still identified and charged yet."
Investigators caution that Williams is armed and dangerous. They said if you see him, don't approach him. Call in with a tip at 215-686-8477.
There's a $20,000 reward for his arrest and conviction.
