Kensington’s Little Angel

Wearing a neon green hat to match the color of his shirt and plaid shorts, Clifford Reynolds addressed the crowd with a look of sincerity and hope.  As he spoke through the microphone, his words echoed more than to just the crowd standing in front of him, but to the community at whole.

“We’d like to thank everyone for coming out and showing your love.  We love you.  I wish we could have done this on a different circumstance.”

The circumstance Reynolds was unfortunately referring to is the rape of his 11-year-old daughter, which took place on the 2000 block of East Westmoreland Street.

After dropping her 4-year-old sister off at Little Treasures Daycare on Kensington Avenue, police said she was followed by a young man who forced her to walk beside him, threatening that he had a gun.  As they reached Westmoreland Street, they turned only for him to force her down another two blocks.

Now just imagine the dreaded long walk this young girl experienced in the open air of Kensington Avenue.  Fearing the unknown of what this young man would do next.

What did happen next is tragic and disgusting.  Police believe the man reportedly forced her into a slim alleyway, following her to the rear yard of a house, and raped her repeatedly.  About an hour later, the crying young girl was able to flag down someone for help. That individual then called 911 and she was rushed to Saint Christopher’s Hospital.

For the most part, Kensington is brought to the media’s attention due to its high rate of drugs and violence.  But the rape of a young girl seemed to prove that Kensington was still a community of hope, unwilling to go down without a fight.

After the rape was broadcast across Philadelphia and the public knew about this vicious attack, people were itching to take action.   Police spokesman Lt. Frank Vanore said units were able find the crime scene and to issue a sketch of the man to the members of the community.  The police urged the community to aid in the search for a criminal.

As a father, Reynolds described his family and his daughter’s pain.

“When there’s no lights or cameras, it’s just us.  It’s hard because the fact of the matter is there is a little girl who’s frightened, that’s hurting, and she’s trying to find her way back.”

Something to ease the little girl’s pain is knowing they might just have caught the guy.

On Tuesday afternoon, Jose Carrasquillo, 26, was roaming the corner of Front and Clearfield in West Kensington, where a mob of people noticed he resembled the sketch strikingly well and reacted.

Fernando Genval and David Vargas are two men who are being applauded for their heroism in the Kensington community after beating up Carrasquillo and holding him for police.

Carrasquillo is still being held in the Special Victims Unit, where the results of his DNA are still pending. He has not been charged with any crime.

Moving Forward

Friends and family sit together socializing and smiling.  Smiling that although the girl sits frightened and scared, she is still alive.

The Reynolds hosted a barbeque in honor of their daughter’s arrival back home from the hospital.  The community, as well as Mayor Nutter and Power 99 FM, came together in support of this little girl.

Golden Girl addressed the crowd: “We have some heroes in this city now.  Communities have definitely decided to come together.  It started here and I hope it should continue throughout the city.”

Reynolds eyes lit up the second he saw Vargas and Genval approaching him.  He embraced them both in a hug, thanking them repeatedly for their courageous act.

Golden Girl and Power 99 FM, also honored the two young men by presenting a plaque to them in recognition of their attempt to wipe the streets of one less criminal.

The tone of the barbeque was hope–hope for a better tomorrow in the Kensington community.

On behalf of Lizz Brown and Melvin Figueroa, a beautiful plaque, titled “Princess,” flowing with its pink and purple decorations was presented to the 11-year-old girl.

Lizz Brown, who created the plaque, read a note to girl.  In the note she said, “You are a winner, not a loser.  God will make you strong.”

Melvin Figueroa is a man who understands the Reynolds’s situation.  Just three years ago, her boyfriend killed his daughter, Latoyia Figueroa, when she was five months pregnant.

With a look of sadness, Figueroa said: “Thank God, she’s still alive, it would have been worse.  Believe me, my daughter was not alive when I found her.”

Since his daughter’s murder, Figueroa has hit the streets talking with the community to prevent future crimes like this. “It’s time to take the city back.  Put it back the way it was,” he said.

Both Figueroa and Reynolds expressed anger toward the fact that criminals continue to roam the streets.

Along with the court system, Figueroa said he believes the city needs to come together as well.

“Everyone keeps hollering the ‘City of Brotherly Love.’  There’s no love out on the street.  Everyday someone else’s life is taken.  Somebody has gotten killed.  Somebody got shot.  Another child’s life has been taken from the hand of a criminal.”

Figueroa added: “Where’s the love at? I don’t understand where the love’s at. “

While the streets of Kensington may not always display love, Golden Girl of Power 99 FM, made sure to support the cause.  A trust fund was set up to help pay for the medical expenses of the Reynolds family.

She explained: “All you have to do is go to any Bank of America and make a donation to the “Little Angel” fund.  It will benefit her because she is an angel.”

In a time of tragedy, the Kensington community came together.  Mayor Nutter attended the event on Saturday in the hope that the city of Philadelphia could grow and find serenity.

“Let us dedicate ourselves to making sure that nothing like this ever happens again,” Nutter said.  “Through this process, she will have united not only the community but the city.”

It will take time for the little girl to overcome the nightmare that was all too real to her this past Monday.  But through it all, she can be comforted knowing that the city will support her and help her through this difficult time.  She will always be known as the “little angel” of Philadelphia.