Suspect sought in deadly shootings of Philadelphia tow truck drivers
Suspect sought in murders of Philly tow truck drivers
Authorities in Philadelphia are searching for Najee Williams, a suspect considered to be ‘armed and dangerous,’ and is wanted for the killings of two tow truck drivers in December and January.
PHILADELPHIA - Authorities in Philadelphia are searching for an ‘armed and dangerous’ suspect wanted for the killings of two tow truck drivers in December and January.
Najee Williams was charged on Wednesday with murder and weapons crimes for the killings, and there is a $20k reward for information that leads to his conviction.
The Philadelphia Police Department provided an update on the search for Williams:
Suspect sought in murders of Philly tow truck drivers
Staff Inspector Ernest Ransom provided an update on the search for a murder suspect accused of fatally shooting two Philadelphia tow truck drivers.
The backstory:
Investigators believe Williams, 27, was the gunman in two shootings that claimed the lives of a 20-year-old man, a 25-year-old man, and left a young woman hurt.
The first shooting happened in broad daylight just days before Christmas on the 4200 block of Torresdale Avenue, according to the Philadelphia Police Department.
Officers found David Garcia-Morales, 20, suffering from gunshot wounds to the neck and thigh inside a 2017 Ford F-450 towing vehicle, investigators said.
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He was brought to Temple University Hospital, where he died four days later.
Over a week into the new year, investigators say 25-year-old Aaron Whitfield and a 20-year-old woman were shot on the 2100 block of Knorr Street overnight.
Whitfield was found shot in his tow truck and pronounced dead, according to police. The young woman was shot in the leg and taken to the hospital for treatment.
Dig deeper:
Williams is the owner of another towing company, NKW Towing and Recovery, LLC, police say.
They are still investigating a territory dispute as a possible motive.
"We have some predatory tow truck drivers operating in the city of Philadelphia. I’m here to tell you now, there’s no area they own in the city of Philadelphia," said Inspector Ernest Ransom, commanding officer of the Philadelphia Police Department’s Homicide Unit.
Whitfield’s parents say they feel some relief that police have identified a suspect.
"This tow truck wars got to stop," says his father, Aaron Whitfield Sr. "Just turn yourself in, you can’t run and hide forever."
Garcia-Morales’ mother, who asked that we do not show her face, describes similar relief, but says it does not take her pain away.
She says her son had a heart of gold and loved everybody. She met Whitfield after her son’s death, and she says Whitfield told her that he stayed with her son after the shooting until police arrived.
"He was just at the hospital with us, he was hurt, he was very hurt by it, they were friends, they really were friends and my son was just a baby, they were both babies actually," she says. "I feel like now that they’re both laid to rest and with God that we now we can fight for justice, that’s my goal now."
What's next:
The Philadelphia District Attorney's Office on Wednesday approved charges against Williams, including murder, reckless endangerment, and weapons offenses.
"Williams is considered armed and dangerous," Philly police said in a statement. "Members of the public are cautioned not to approach him."
Investigators have asked the public for tips that could help them locate Williams. A $20K reward is being offered for information leading to his arrest and conviction.