A funeral will be held next Monday for the three children who were killed during a carjacking hit-and-run. The announcement was made by family members during a vigil and memorial Tuesday night that was held at the exact same spot where the fatal crash occurred.
Joseph Thomas Reed, 10, his sister Keiearra Williams, 15, and brother Terrence Moore, 7, were struck and killed Friday when a carjacked SUV plowed into a fruit stand where they were volunteering on a street corner on Germantown and Allegheny Avenues.
The children's mother, 34-year-old Keisha Williams, was critically injured while their neighbor, 65-year-old Thelma Brown, broke an ankle. Family members say Williams, who remains in a coma, still doesn't know that her children were killed.
"There were so many questions that we have no answers to," said Cassandra Alexander, a cousin of the victims. "Our tears seem to never end. Our hearts are completely broken."
The chant of "we are one" and prayers were heard during the rally. The family members of the victims asked that those prayers be repeated by everyone who attended.
"We can't believe this is our new reality," Alexander said. "A nightmare that just won't end. We just can't grasp it."
The crowd also called for change in their community.
"It's time for us to say enough is enough," said Tyema Sanchez, a member of Handbags 4 Peace, a local community group. "We have to start governing our neighborhoods!"
As the rally ended, family and friends released balloons in memory of the three young victims.
"We are humbled by all of your love and support," Alexander said. "Please keep our family in your prayers."
During the rally, family members confirmed that the funeral for the children will take place on Monday at 11 a.m. at the Seventh Day Adventist Church at 16th and Oxford Streets. Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams also announced that NBA legend and former Philadelphia 76er Charles Barkley offered to pay for the funeral expenses.
The two suspects in the deadly carjacking and crash - Cornelius Crawford, 23, and Jonathan Rosa, 19 - were charged Monday with second-degree murder, robbery, carjacking, sexual assault and other offenses. On Tuesday investigators revealed that Rosa's own mother brought her son back to police after they questioned and released him earlier in the weekend.