Four of the five people killed in an apparently random shooting in Philadelphia Monday night were remembered by their families as a man who would try to help anyone he could, an emotional father preparing to attend his daughter’s wedding, a man who liked to draw. and an adorable teenager who died trying to get help from his injured friend.
The five victims have been identified as Lashyd Merritt, 22; Dymir Stanton, 29; Ralph Moralis, 59; Daujan Brown, 15; and Joseph Wamah Jr., 31.
Two people — a 13-year-old boy and a 2-year-old boy — were shot in the legs and were listed as stable. The 2-year-old boy’s twin brother suffered injuries to one eye from broken glass after the assailant shot into a vehicle in which he and his mother were riding. And a 33-year-old woman was also injured by glass, police said.
The attack took place at around 8.30pm on Monday in the Kingsessing neighborhood of the city. Officers quickly pursued a suspect wearing body armor who continued to fire before surrendering, police said.
Philadelphia Police Staff Inspector Ernest Ransom said the suspect fired “aimlessly at vehicles and people occupied on the street as they walked.”
A 40-year-old man, Kimbrady Carriker, was arrested and charged with murder, aggravated assault, possession of an instrument of crime, simple assault, reckless endangerment and a firearms charge.
The public defender, who represents him, did not want to make any comments on Wednesday.
Lashyd Merritt
Merritt was shot in the neighborhood he called home Monday, a family member said.
Nikki Merritt, a cousin, said Lashyd Merritt, 22, was thrown down her front steps after he went out to get food.
“I was just going to the store for dinner for the night,” he said. “He lived three or four doors down from where he was found. He grew up here.”
Lashyd Merritt went to Overbrook High School in West Philadelphia before trying college and settling down with a full-time job, his cousin said.
He landed at the IRS as a service representative, he said.
“He was generally a good guy,” she said. “He always supported and helped anyone. Family, friends. Anyone. If he thought he could help, he would.”
Daujan Brown
Daujan was the youngest victim to die. He was walking to a store Monday night when he was attacked, said his mother, Nashaya Thomas NBC Philadelphia.
Daujan was shot while trying to help a 13-year-old friend who was shot twice in the legs and survived, he said.
“He was just trying to get help from his friend not knowing that the bullets don’t have names,” he told the station.
Thomas told NBC Philadelphia that his son was a lovable boy.
“There was no way you could meet Daujan, have a conversation with him and not fall in love with him,” she said. “He lost his life trying to do a selfless act, and that’s how he was when he was here.”
Joseph Wamah Jr.
Wamah’s twin sister, Josephine Wamah, and another sister recalled how loving he was, telling reporters at a news conference Wednesday afternoon that he was an “angel” taken from them.
“I don’t understand how someone could do this to my brother,” Josephine said. “I love him so much.”
Wamah had a degree in psychology and loved to draw. Josephine said she was a “beautiful” person inside and out.
“I’m going to miss that beautiful smile. I really am,” she said. “He had the best hugs.”
Ralph Morales
Moralis, called “man of reference”, was to attend the wedding of his daughter, family members, on Sunday he told The Associated Press. He was shot outside the childhood home where he lived.
“He was the go-to guy whether you needed a bike for one of the kids or his cousin said, ‘I need to go to Florida.’ Can you drive me?’” Karen Gleason, his sister-in-law, told the news agency. “I would. He was always there for the family and always willing to help.”
Donna Mendell and Minyvonne Burke contributed.
