Two city men were charged yesterday in a shoot-out that spilled into a school yard, leaving a 10-year-old boy on life support and terrorizing a North Philadelphia neighborhood.Kennell Spady, 19, of the 3000 block of Bonsall Street, and Kareem Johnson, 20, of the 2900 block of Taney Street, were charged with attempted murder and aggravated assault, police announced at a news conference at Police Headquarters last night. Both were picked up at 17th and Mifflin Streets in South Philadelphia on outstanding federal warrants for other firearms-related charges.
Police said they had not determined whether either man fired the bullets that struck Faheem Thomas-Childs in the face and crossing guard Debra Smith, 56, in the foot outside T.M. Peirce Elementary School at 23rd and Cambria Streets on Wednesday. Both suspects live within blocks of the school.
A third man, whom police did not identify, also was questioned by police but was not charged in connection with the shootings. He remained in custody on other charges, police said.
Saying, “We still have a long way to go,” Police Commissioner Sylvester M. Johnson pleaded last night for eyewitnesses who would be willing to identify and testify against the shooters or provide information that could lead to more arrests.
“We’ve got a child shot, a $65,000 reward, and nobody’s coming forward,” Johnson said. “And these guys are still walking around with guns.”
Faheem, a third grader whose teacher called him a “peacemaker,” has been on life support at Temple University Children’s Medical Center since the shooting. He was about to enter the school about 8:30 a.m. Wednesday when the gun battle erupted where children were skipping rope and tossing balls in the school yard nearby.
He collapsed on the side-walk, falling backward on his backpack, as dozens of children ran for cover. Police said two groups of men, one in a car and the other on the street, exchanged 94 shots from six guns.
Police aren’t sure how many people were firing Johnson said.
“These people shoot first and talk later,” District Attorney Lynne M. Abraham said as she, too, pleaded for witnesses. “Do it for yourself. Do it for your children. Do it for Faheem. Do it while he’s still on life support.”
One of the two men arrested had been dropping off a child at the school, Capt. Richard Ross said. Both were being held last night at Police Headquarters and were to be arraigned on the local charges today and on federal charges Tuesday.
The arrests resulted from cooperation between police and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, Johnson said.
“No witnesses were involved in these arrests,” Johnson said. “We need someone to come forward.”
Community leaders were prodding witnesses with the promise of a reward and a new life.
“We will relocate any witness to any part of the country, if necessary,” said J. Whyatt Mondesire, president of the Philadelphia chapter of the NAACP. “Somebody in the community saw something. Any religious leader in the community will have their arms wrapped around any witness that comes forward. Nothing will happen to any witness that comes forward.”
The city already has raised more than $65,000 toward a reward and also promised relocation for witnesses.