$5K reward offered in shooting of woman, girl, 6
CHESTER >> A $5,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the gunman who injured a 6-yearold girl and her 67-year-old aunt during a pre-Mother’s Day gathering in the city.
Mayor Thaddeus Kirkland and Police Commissioner Otis Blair announced the reward Wednesday afternoon.
“These are our babies and we are going to do everything humanly possible to make sure they don’t become a statistic because of some foolish act of violence,” Kirkland stated in a prepared release.
Police were dispatched to the 200 block of Lloyd Street about 5 p.m. Saturday. Arriving officers found the two victims suffering from small caliber gunshot wounds.
Officer Jeffrey Walls, a one-year veteran of the department, is credited with applying a tourniquet to the leg of the 6-year-old girl prior to her being transported to the hospital.
“Officer Walls’ effort is a testament to the training and dedication that this department has to the community,” Blair stated. “Fortunately there were no fatalities, however senseless acts of violence in our community, especially involving innocent, precious children will not be tolerated.”
Both the mayor and the police commissioner visited the victims at Crozer-Chester Medical Center shortly after the shooting. Both victims have been released from Crozer.
As the investigation continues, detectives are actively following up on several leads. Based on information gathered so far, investigators believe that shots were fired into a crowd, not from within the group.
The young victim’s mother was informed of the city’s decision to offer a reward, according to the release. She is hopeful it will assist in an arrest, and bringing justice to her family, police said.
The event is an annual gathering of family members and organizers had a required permit.
Anyone with information is asked to contact city Detective Jamison Rogers at
610-723-7991 or Detective Michael Canfield at 610-4477813. Tips can also be submitted anonymously by using the city’s FREE Police Mobile app. Download the app by the Chester Police Department mobile app onto your smartphone or tablet. It is available free of charge from the Apple and Google Play (Android) app stores.