Rape victim, 11, released from hospital

The 11-year-old girl who was raped on her way to school in Kensington on Monday was released from St. Christopher's Hospital for Children earlier today, police said.

The youngster was "trying to rest and take it easy," said her mother, Demetrice Reynolds.

Police officials said a man began following the girl as she walked her younger sister to a Kensington day-care center about 8:20 p.m. The man followed the girl after she left the day-care center and threatened to shoot her if she tried to flee.

They walked about six blocks to a rear yard on Westmoreland Street, where the man repeatedly raped the girl, police said.

While the girl underwent surgery at St. Christopher's to repair her injuries, investigators identified Jose Carrasquillo, 26, as a "person of interest."

An angry mob of residents pummeled Carrasquillo Tuesday afternoon when they spotted him near Front and Clearfield streets. He was taken to Temple University Hospital, where his condition was upgraded today from critical to stable, police said.

Investigators, who linked Carrasquillo to the case through physical evidence, said rape charges could be filed later this week.