Police are searching for four men responsible for the deadly beating of a 23-year-old man in Philadelphia’s historic Old City.
Kevin Kless died Saturday evening from injuries he sustained after he was repeatedly kicked and punched by three men while hailing a cab near 4th and Chestnut earlier that day.
Kless' mother, Kendall, spoke with NBCPhiladelphia's Cydney Long by phone Sunday night.
"If they have any idea what they have done to our lives...Kevin was my baby and for no good reason," said Kless.
Police say around 2:25 a.m. Kless, who was with two female friends, tried to hail a cab. He shouted an obscenity at a cab driver to turn his rooftop light off after another group was already inside. The suspects, who were in another car, thought the comment was for them. Three men jumped out of the car and beat Kless until he was unconscious. A fourth man sat in the car, according to police. All four men fled the scene.
"We know there was a fourth person in the car that did not get out, where is that person?," she asked. "He may not have gotten out and thrown any blows but that person needs to realize he's in big trouble when he gets caught. Now is a good time to come forward."
National Park Service rangers heard the women’s screams and ran from Independence Mall and gave Kless first aid. The 2010 Temple graduate died hours later at Jefferson University Hospital.
Kless was featured in a recent YouTube video interview. The video appears to be a mock interview with a friend. The New York native was working for a local insurance firm and had recently moved into an apartment on Brown Street.
Police say they are reviewing surveillance video but have not released any information so far. Investigators are searching for three Middle Eastern men in their 20’s.
Police are looking for a maroon Mazda 626 with a model year 2000 to 2003.
If you have any information about the assault you are asked to contact Philadelphia police at (215) 686-3388.
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