On August 23, 2023, the body of 12-year-old Hezekiah R. Bernard was discovered in a dumpster on the 5500 block of Cherry Street in West Philadelphia. A Philadelphia Housing Authority sanitation worker found his remains wrapped in a comforter, with his head encased in plastic. An autopsy revealed that Hezekiah had been shot once in the head, and his death was ruled a homicide.
Investigators estimated that Hezekiah had been deceased for approximately 24 to 36 hours before his discovery.
Initially, his identity was unknown, prompting detectives to distribute flyers with descriptions of his clothing in the surrounding neighborhood. On August 29, family members came forward and positively identified him.
In the days following the identification, a vigil was held to honor Hezekiah's memory. Family and community members gathered to remember him as a loving child, full of energy and known for his dancing and athleticism. His mother, Dolores Davis, expressed profound grief, describing him as her "only baby" and lamenting the senselessness of his death.
As the investigation progressed, authorities identified 16-year-old Tysheer Shahe Hankinson as a person of interest in Hezekiah's murder. Tragically, on September 2, 2023, Hankinson was found shot multiple times on the 5400 block of Poplar Street in West Philadelphia and later succumbed to his injuries. Prior to his death, Hankinson had survived a previous shooting earlier in the year.
As of now, no arrests have been made in connection with Hezekiah's murder. The Philadelphia Police Department continues to investigate, urging anyone with information to come forward. The community remains in mourning, seeking justice for a young life tragically cut short.
