Philadelphia Boy Fatally Shot While Responding to Knock at Front Door

Lorenz Duchamps
By Lorenz Duchamps
November 23, 2020US News
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Philadelphia Boy Fatally Shot While Responding to Knock at Front Door
Police tape secures a crime scene in a file photo. (Johannes Eisele/AFP via Getty Images)

A 12-year-old boy was fatally shot through the front door of his Pennsylvania home after hearing someone knocking on it, according to his family and police reports.

“What we know at this time is that there was a knock at the door. No descriptions of any persons at the door, one shot was fired,” Deputy Commissioner Melvin Singleton said during a press briefing, CBS Philly reported.

Singleton that a single 9mm shell casing was found on the porch of the house, adding that’s all the information investigators have at this time.

The victim was identified as Sadeek Clark-Harrison. He was killed shortly before 3 a.m. on Sunday at his home on Ditman Street in Philadelphia’s East Frankford neighborhood.

Detectives confirmed that the bullet went through the crescent moon glass of the front door. Clark-Harrison was hit once in the face and was found dead on the scene, according to CBS Philly.

The boy’s grieving mother told the network her son was an athlete and was active at his church. She added his 10-year-old sister and grandmother were present at the home at the time of the shooting.

No person of interest or arrest has been announced at this time. Investigators said that according to witnesses, the suspect ran from the scene.

“I hope that in situations like this, the community feels a sense of urgency to provide us with some information to apprehend or give some investigative help,” Singleton said. “So if anyone has any information please come forward.”

Investigators working on the case are asking anyone with information to contact them at 215-686-TIPS.

Philadelphia has been reported as among the deadliest cities in the United States this year, with already over 400 homicides reported so far.

According to data from Crime Maps & Stats from the Philadelphia Police Department, there have been 440 homicides in 2020, a 38 percent increase from the same time period in 2018.

Last year’s data shows 356 people were victims of homicide.

Besides Philadelphia, data shows Chicago has the highest U.S. homicide rate this year, with the city facing a 50 percent increase in gun violence compared to last year’s data.

The Chicago Sun-Times reported that according to an analysis of Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office, Chicago has seen 694 homicides as of Nov. 19, numbers not seen since 1998.

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