Teen Arrested For The Shooting Of 11-Year-Old Boy, Police Seek Second Suspect
By Matt Rivers
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – An anti-violence rally just wrapped up not too long ago here, in the wake of an 11-year-old boy being shot last Sunday just one block from here.
This came after police announced they had captured a suspect in the shooting and were looking for another.
Last Sunday, police say 25-year-old Marcellus Temple and his younger brother fired over a dozen shots into a crowd, striking an 11-year-old boy.
Marcellus is still on the run, but his sixteen year old brother, who police did not I.D., was arrested this morning.
"It's horrible, but that's our society now, you've got a sixteen year old who's known to carry a gun."
Denise Ripley knows that first hand, she was down the street when the shots rang out last Sunday.
"I ran for cover in the back of the fire station and I was just scared."
Scared, but angry, she helped organize an anti-violence rally today, aimed at getting these two dozen or so people to show unity and talk about solutions.
W. Curtis Thomas, Representative of the 181st district, says, "I believe that all of us have failed in protecting our children."
When a 16-year-old shoots an 11 year old, he says, society has let down both of them.
The representative suggested a few solutions, including increased police cooperation and the opening of rec centers nearby, which there are none.
"There are no other outlets for these children to play and to engage in positive activity."
It's not the first time these people have had a community rally or heard a politician throw out suggestions. But the other option, they say, is to give up, which is not really an option at all.
"I don't feel that we can't do nothing. I think when we all come together and connect; we can do something about this because it's taking place all over the city."
Police say they do consider the remaining suspect in this case to be armed and dangerous.
As to the condition of the 11-year-old that was shot, he is expected to undergo at least one more surgery, but should recover just fine.