A 12-year-old boy was found dead in West Philadelphia on August 23, 2023. The body of Hezekiah R. Bernard was discovered in a dumpster on the 5500 block of Cherry Street, wrapped in a comforter with his head encased in plastic. An autopsy showed a single gunshot wound to the head and the death was ruled a homicide; investigators estimated he had been dead about 24 to 36 hours before discovery.

Hezekiah remained unidentified for several days while detectives distributed flyers describing his clothing. Family members positively identified him on August 29, and a vigil followed. Relatives described him as a loving child, energetic, a dancer and athlete; his mother, Dolores Davis, called him her only baby. Authorities later named 16-year-old Tysheer Shahe Hankinson as a person of interest; Hankinson was fatally shot on September 2, 2023. No arrests have been announced in Hezekiah’s killing and police are asking anyone with information to come forward.

If anyone knew Hezekiah or saw anything around Cherry Street on August 22–23, can you share information with investigators?