Caught in a crossfire, a young father dies
A 25-year-old man died last week after he unknowingly drove through a gun battle on Germantown Avenue, police and family said.
A 25-year-old man died last week after he unknowingly drove through a gun battle on Germantown Avenue, police and family said.
Alsharay Ford was struck by stray bullets in the left temple and right shoulder on the 5100 block of Germantown about 6 p.m. Thursday, according to police.
Ford's sister, Matrea Thomas, said he had just picked up his 3-year-old daughter, Alayna, after work and was headed back to his Oxford Circle home.
Police said that after he was struck, Ford drove his 2009 Chevrolet Malibu for two blocks until crashing. His daughter, in the backseat, was unharmed.
Ford was taken to Einstein Medical Center, where he was first listed in extremely critical condition, police said. His sister said he died Friday.
"My family has just been trying to cope with it the best way we can, make sure my niece is OK, and make sure she knows her dad loved her," Thomas, 20, said Tuesday.
Police believe the shootout was between two men, one about 6 feet tall and wearing black pants, a white tank top, and a goatee, the other about 5-foot-10 and wearing a white shirt and dark jeans.
Thomas said losing her brother to random violence was "overwhelming." She said she was moved by the number of tributes she had seen on social media.
She said that her brother was a line cook at Dave & Buster's in Plymouth Meeting, and that he loved basketball, music, food, and his family. He had a goofy sense of humor, Thomas said, and his daughter was close with her 2-year-old daughter as well.
"He was just a loving individual who always wanted to help anyone he could," Thomas said.
Anyone with information about the crime is encouraged to call the Homicide Unit at 215-686-3334.
215-854-2817
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