Reward grows to $53,000 in slaying of carpenter

The Philadelphia Housing Authority and city labor unions have posted a $53,000 reward for any information leading to the arrest and conviction of the gunman who killed a carpenter in North Philadelphia last month.

"We are outraged and we want to see successful apprehension and prosecution of the assailant," said Carl Greene, the executive director of the PHA.

Rodney Barnes, 46, was shot on July 25th while unloading tools from his coworker's truck parked at 24th and Norris Streets. Police have made no arrests.

Barnes, of Elkins Park, died of his injuries last week. Funeral services are scheduled for this Saturday.

The original reward was $10,000. More money was added to the pot after several city labor unions and anonymous donors chipped in. In addition to the Carpenters Union, the International Brotherhood for Electrical Workers union pitched in. Wachovia Bank added an additional $10,000, said a representative for the housing authority.

The Hunter Roberts Construction Group, a private contracting firm that has worked with PHA for the last two-and-half-years, put up $20,000, said Daniel Dirscherl, the Group's senior vice president and general manager.

"We want our workers to know that we care about their well being." he said.

Barnes was the first PHA employee to be killed while on duty, Greene said.

"We want our workers to be able to have a reasonable assumption of safety [while on the job]," he said.

Barnes, father of four, was also a licensed minister at the Mt. Airy Church of God in Christ, where he coordinated their prison ministry, said his wife of 23 years, Shirley Rodney Barnes.

"That was his passion to let people know their lives can be changed," she said.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Citizens Crime Commission at 215-546-8477.