A $20,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest of a suspect who allegedly killed two men and critically injured a teenager during a triple shooting in North Philadelphia.
On January 3 around 5:45 p.m., police responded to a radio call on the 100 block of West Wishart Street for a report of a person with a gun. When they arrived they found Richard DaVilla, 47, and Raul Rodriguez, 21, on the ground. DaVilla had been shot in the right thigh and back while Rodriguez had been shot in the back of the head.
Police also found a 17-year-old boy inside a nearby home who had been shot in the face. All three victims were taken to Temple University Hospital. DaVilla was pronounced dead at 5:59 p.m. that same night while Rodriguez died from his injuries on January 6 at 11:30 a.m. The teenager remains in critical condition.
After over two weeks of investigating, police identified 19-year-old Ativa Jackson as a suspect in the shooting. A warrant was issued for his arrest on January 19.
DaVilla’s sister Carmen Pagan told NBC10 her brother was an innocent bystander who was across the street from his home when the shooting occurred.
“My brother was a very humble guy,” she said. “He never got into problems with anybody. Out of all people we can’t understand something like that happening to him. He didn’t get into any trouble and he was always by himself.”
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Pagan said the death has been especially difficult for her mother.
“He was her first-born of eight children,” Pagan said. “We’ve never had anything so tragic happen to our family. She’s heartbroken.”
The City of Philadelphia is offering a $20,000 reward for information leading to Jackson’s arrest and conviction. If you have any information, please call the Homicide Unit at 215-686-3334/3335 or call 911.
