Balloon release, Author Andy Mabbett (CC BY-SA 4.0 International)
WARNING: Graphic Images
The body of a 12 y.o. boy was found this week in a dumpster in West Philadelphia — a destitute and poverty stricken corner of the City of Brotherly Love [1A].
The boy, Hezekiah “Hezzy” Bernard, had been shot in the head. His body was wrapped in plastic before being discarded with the trash, at a public housing complex. The death has been formally ruled a homicide.
“He lit up a room. He was always dancing…He was teachable, he wanted to be mentored and he was joining our new job training program.”
–Pastor Aaron Campbell of LevelUp, a Christian non-profit which serves Philadelphia’s disadvantaged youth [1B][2]
Hundreds in the community gathered for a balloon release to honor the young boy. But he was never reported missing by family or friends, and the challenge for police will be to identify his killer.
Witness cooperation with law enforcement investigations is notoriously difficult to obtain in Philadelphia. This stems from a combination of misplaced loyalty, police distrust, and the constant fear of retribution.
Was this boy, himself, the witness to a crime? Was he shot to punish some family member? Was he a victim of mistaken identity? Was his death pay-back for some imagined slight to a stranger? Was he simply at the wrong place, at the wrong time — collateral damage in yet another unreported shooting?
Life is cheap in what these days is politely called the “inner city”. Children are murdered and left in dumpsters.
But this is not how God sees it.
“Whoever pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity, and honor” (Prov. 21: 21).
God is the source of all life. Through Him we can have life, now and in eternity. That is our comfort in affliction (Ps. 119: 50).
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[1A and 1B] Philadelphia Inquirer, “The body of a 12-year-old boy was found in a dumpster in West Philadelphia, police say” by Ellie Rushing and Chris Palmer, 8/31/23, https://www.inquirer.com/crime/hezekiah-bernard-body-found-dumpster-west-philadelphia-20230831.html.
[2] LevelUp, https://levelupphilly.org/.
A second 12 y.o. boy, Jaylen Richards, was shot Saturday night in Baltimore, MD. Whether he was the intended target is unknown. He died in Shock Trauma, after unsuccessful attempts to save him.
See, https://www.wbaltv.com/article/maisel-court-shooting-baltimore/43609191#.
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ANNA WALDHERR A Voice Reclaimed, Surviving Child Abuse 
Das aind ja furchtbare Tragödien. Ohne festen Glauben wäre es kaum zu ertragen. Alles Liebe, M.
Sehr richtig, Marie. LG, A. ❤
How sad that this child was not reported missing. Lord, have mercy on us–humanity. Forgive us humans for being inhumane to our own.
If we cannot protect our own children, we cannot be called human.
Heartbreaking. What a tragedy. Where is BLM? Where are the community leaders and organizers? Why only around election times do political leaders show up with promises and then disappear? The daily fear people live with must be soul-crushing. May God have mercy. And may God’s justice prevail on behalf of the young and helpless.
You’ve taken the words right out of my mouth, Dora.
It’s a terrible tragedy, and what makes it even more horrendous is that he was not reported missing.
That is what struck me, also, Dolly.
I do not live far from Philly and this is the first I have heard of this. This is beyond horrible and burns my stomach. Heartbreaking. I agree with Dora, where is the outrage. How did no family or friends report this, maybe they were afraid of reporting? I don’t know, but praise God there will be a day when the wicked will be judged. The kingdom that is coming has no room for the evil, vile, and wicked. I pray to live well and help others in Jesus’s name while there is still time.
I lived in Philly for 20 years, Mandy. It is a city plagued by poverty and crime, but very dear to my heart. That is why I was especially appalled by this boy’s murder.
It is really tragic what is happening now. South street used to be a fun place, now at least for me, not so much. I go to Phillies and Eagles games, so now I just go to the stadium and leave. It is not often that someone has Philly near and dear to their heart!!!! Praying that God will fill you with peace as you seek to be a light for Him in dark places.
I pray the same for you, Mandy.
Awful.