Roxborough High School student killed in SEPTA bus shooting, video released
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Philadelphia police just released surveillance video showing a suspect wanted in a deadly shooting aboard a SEPTA bus.
This is the newly released video showing the suspect.
Police say a man in a hoodie and ski mask boarded the Route 23 bus in Germantown Wednesday night, got into an argument with the teenager, and then shot him in the chest. The teen was rushed to the hospital but died a short time later.
The victim was identified as 15-year-old Randy Mills, a ninth grader of West Mount Airy.
"He was a sweet child," Deborah Johnson said. "I can't say anything negative about him."
Johnson says her young neighbor Mills was one of the most respectful teens that lived on her block.
"He was peaceful," Johnson said. "If I was doing something he would say 'Do you want me to help you, Ms. Johnson?'" "I said, 'Baby I got it, I got it,' and when it was snowing he would help me with the snow and we would put the ice melt there."
"He was a good little kid," Alma Dorman said. "He was well respect and always speak to me but I didn't know that was him on the bus."
"It's a cruel world for these young people to be growing up in," Johnson said.
Now, the teen's neighbors are heartbroken another young life was taken because of a senseless shooting.
"Nothing negative, not disrespectful," Johnson said. "If it's anything, it's can I help you?"
"A respectful little boy and I'm going to truly miss him," Dorman said.
A School District of Philadelphia spokesperson said Mills was a Roxborough High School student.
"We wish to extend our deepest sympathies and heartfelt thoughts to the family and friends of the young Roxborough High School student whose life was tragically cut short Wednesday," a statement said. "We condemn the senseless gun violence in Philadelphia - a yearslong crisis that continues to have lasting impacts on our children and their families."
"We are committed to working together with the Mayor's Office, City Council, the business community and other Philadelphians who share the urgent need to eradicate gun violence in our city," the statement continued.
Grief counselors will be at the school Friday for affected students, and the school remains open. There is also online counseling available through the company Kooth, with no charge to families.
When the shots were fired, shell casings and one of the bullets from the shooting struck the glass partition behind the bus driver's seat.
SEPTA Police Chief Charles Lawson spoke to CBS News Philadelphia about the shooting Thursday and said ski masks are banned on SEPTA transit.
Plainclothes officers will now be aboard as many rides as possible, he said.
Lawson stressed that riders are on multiple surveillance cameras whenever they ride SEPTA.
"We're going to use all that video evidence to affect an arrest and we will not stop. We will not stop looking for you because we know you'll be back, and when you come back to take the next trip, be looking over your shoulder because we are coming," Lawson said.
After the shooting, the suspect then ran off.
Mills' mother and brother said they're still trying to process what happened and they're planning his funeral for Saturday.
A $20,000 reward is now being offered for information leading to an arrest and conviction.
