A 12-year-old boy named Hezekiah “Hezzy” Bernard was found dead in a dumpster in West Philadelphia. He had been shot in the head and wrapped in plastic. Hezekiah was under the care of the Department of Human Services at the time of his death, according to WHYY. The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that he had not been reported missing. Authorities believe that he died 24 to 36 hours before his body was discovered on August 23 at a public housing complex on 55th and Cherry Streets. The dumpster had been picked up by a Housing Authority sanitation employee on August 22 and taken to a Housing Authority facility overnight. When the employee was returning the dumpster to its original location the next day, it overturned, revealing the boy’s body.
Officers who responded to the scene found the body “on the rear of a dump truck,” as reported by USA Today. Jasmine Reilly, a police representative, states that the male was pronounced dead at 10:26am. A comprehensive examination of the remains conducted on August 24 confirmed that the manner of death was homicide. However, authorities did not know the identity of the victim at the time. Hezekiah’s family reached out to the Medical Examiner’s Office after fliers were distributed in West Philadelphia. Hezekiah’s sister tells the Inquirer that he grew up in North Philadelphia but had been living in West Philadelphia. The family is described as “overwhelmed with grief.”
Pastor Aaron Campbell, the founding director of the LevelUp organization, which aims to provide a safe space for young people amidst the gun violence crisis and high homicide count in Philadelphia, reveals that Hezekiah was a regular attendee of the group. Campbell shares that he was a bright presence who loved to dance and had recently joined their new job training program. Friends of Hezekiah are left confused and devastated by his death. Ernest Random, head of the Philadelphia police homicide unit, appeals to the public for help in identifying the offenders involved in this brutal murder case. He emphasizes the urgency of apprehending those responsible. (Read more murder stories.)
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