Reward offered for leads in attack on Philly activist

The Citizens' Crime Commission has offered an $11,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the person who attacked Marsha Moore, a longtime community activist in Southwest Philadelphia.

Moore, 52, a block captain and winner of a crime commission award, was beaten while she slept Oct. 29. She suffered fractures to her fingers and arms, and required major facial reconstructive surgery. She is at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.

The reward could grow, John Apeldorn, crime commission president, said Friday.

"We will not ask your name; we'll give you a code number," Apeldorn said at the 12th District police station, adding that the payout would be in cash. "We just want to get this thug off of the street."

Anyone with information is being asked to call 215-546-TIPS.

Mayor Nutter, State Sen. Anthony Hardy Williams, and State Reps. Kenyatta Johnson and Ron Waters announced the reward Friday afternoon, along with 12th District officers; Moore's husband, Robert, who works for the U.S. Postal Service; and members of the community.

Nutter, who had already dealt with a day full of bad news - the arrest of Police Inspector Juan Castro on federal corruption charges; a fire in South Philadelphia that killed a toddler; and the suspicious death of the mayor's 76-year-old neighbor - was in no mood to play nice.

"The right thing to do is to turn yourself in," he said of Moore's assailant. "But let me assure you, for the dog that you are, if you don't, we will hunt your butt down. Enough is enough."