Police ID man wanted in West Philly hit-and-run involving 2 children, 1 adult
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The Philadelphia Police Department has identified the suspected driver wanted in connection to a hit-and-run in West Philadelphia last month. The crash left three people hurt, including a 5-year-old girl who remains in the hospital.
The young girl's family says she is still in the hospital with multiple serious injuries. Her family held a prayer circle for her outside of their West Philly home Monday afternoon.
Now, for the first time, police have identified the alleged hit-and-run driver.
Police say 53-year-old Andre Shuford is the man they suspect as the driver of a pickup truck in a hit-and-run that happened at 56th and Vine Streets on Sept. 2.
Officers say Shuford was captured on camera moments before the crash, which injured four people, including 5-year-old Divinity McFarland.
"She had a severe brain injury," Elsie Johnson, Divinity's aunt, said, "and from that, she wasn't able to wake up for a good while."
Johnson says her niece was struck with so much force from the crash it initially left her in a coma.
"Today, she is starting to open her eyes," Johnson said. "Her one eye opens up and she's able to look around. So we talk to her to reassure her that we're there so that she knows that we're there."
But the young girl still cannot speak.
Kathy Selli is her grandmother.
"It's really sad for us to sit every day in the hospital," Selli said, "and for us to see her and she's in a lot of pain and there's nothing we can do to help her."
Shaheed Richburg, 43, was also struck in the crash. He still cannot walk on his own.
"Everything just changed. Snap, just like that," Richburg said.
Richburg spoke Monday from his home just a few hours after being released from the hospital. The 43-year-old had to undergo multiple surgeries to repair broken bones and internal bleeding from the impact.
"At least 10 months to a year that I ain't going to be able to walk," he said.
Richburg had just picked up four children from day care and was crossing the street when he spotted the speeding vehicle heading directly toward them.
"Push the stroller away from out of the way of the truck," Richburg said, "but me and my little niece got hit because she was holding on to the stroller so I'm figuring when I did that she must have let go of that so me and her got hit."
Two other children who were also hurt in the incident are home and doing OK.
Police say there is an active arrest warrant out for Shuford, who is believed to be known to parts of North Philadelphia and Kensington.
"Turn yourself in," Johnson said. "You've been walking around every day for a month while my little one cannot do the same, sitting in the hospital for a month, not doing anything. And it's not fair. Someone knows where he is. Please turn him in."
"Turn yourself in, man," Richburg said. "That's all I want for my niece's sake go ahead and turn yourself in buddy."
Another child injured in the hit-and-run has been released from the hospital.
Police urge anyone with information about the suspected driver's whereabouts to call 911.
