Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – Philadelphia police are actively searching for a 15-year-old suspect in connection with a deadly attempted carjacking that occurred on July 12 at the intersection of 12th and Porter streets. The incident claimed the life of 50-year-old Michael Salerno, who tragically lost his life while trying to prevent the carjacking.
According to investigators, Salerno was with a female friend inside his vehicle when three males, believed to be between 15 and 20 years old, approached the car with aggressive and violent intentions from the outset.
As the suspects tried to carjack the vehicle, Salerno bravely attempted to stop them. Tragically, during the confrontation, he was shot once in the head. The fatal shot proved fatal, and Salerno was pronounced dead at the scene.
The tweet below verifies the news:
#BREAKING: Police ID 15-year-old suspect wanted in deadly attempted carjacking in South Philadelphiahttps://t.co/am9wgJl3S6
— Action News on 6abc (@6abc) July 21, 2023
One of the suspects has been identified by the police as Rasheed Banks Jr, a 15-year-old considered armed and dangerous. The search for Banks Jr is currently underway, as law enforcement authorities work diligently to bring him to justice for his alleged involvement in the deadly incident.
During their investigation, the police revealed that Salerno was not inside the vehicle at the time of the carjacking. It appears that the suspects may have been actively searching for a target, as they were observed circling the neighborhood in a Red Kia Soul with out-of-state license plates.
Lieutenant Hamilton Marshmond commented on the situation, stating, “We do see the offenders’ vehicle ride past in the area several times. It appears that the offenders were in the area to either rob a person or attempt to take a vehicle.”
Witnesses recalled the distressing scene, with Jackeline Ortiz describing the victim lying on the street with a pool of blood forming around him while a female companion screamed in distress.
The suspects managed to flee the scene in the Kia Soul, and the vehicle was last spotted heading south on 12th Street.
As the investigation unfolds, the Philadelphia community remains on high alert, with authorities urging anyone with information on the whereabouts of Rasheed Banks Jr or any details related to the incident to come forward.
The tragic loss of Michael Salerno’s life has sent shockwaves through the area, prompting a collective effort to bring those responsible to justice and prevent such senseless acts of violence in the future.
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