PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA — The U.S. Marshals Service joined Philadelphia Police in the hunt for Najee Williams, the suspect wanted in connection with the murders of two tow truck drivers in separate shootings. Investigators believe a towing territory dispute drove both killings. The reward for Williams’ arrest has grown to $21,500.
First Victim: David Garcia-Morales
On December 22, a dark-colored sedan followed a white pickup truck on Torresdale Avenue near Auth Street in Philadelphia’s Frankford neighborhood. The sedan driver pulled into opposing traffic lanes, drove up alongside the truck, and shot 20-year-old David Garcia-Morales at least once in the neck before speeding away. A witness nearby described the moment the shots rang out.
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“So we were sitting outside, next thing you know we hear about eight gunshots and we all ran,” the witness said. “Broad daylight — it’s people, kids walking from school. It’s pretty scary.”
Garcia-Morales went to Temple University Hospital in critical condition. He died from his injuries on December 26.
Second Victim: Aaron Whitfield Jr.
Three weeks later, on January 12, 25-year-old tow truck driver Aaron Whitfield Jr. and his 21-year-old girlfriend sat parked outside a smoke shop on Bustleton Avenue near the 2100 block of Knorr Street in Northeast Philadelphia. Surveillance video shows a silver Honda pull up alongside the tow truck. Two people inside opened fire, unleashing at least a dozen shots, before speeding away. Whitfield died at the scene. His girlfriend suffered extensive gunshot wounds to her leg and remained hospitalized.
Photo credit: 6abc
Whitfield’s father, Aaron Whitfield Sr., said the family searched hospitals before learning the truth. “We couldn’t find him. We went to every hospital. He was still dead in the truck. That’s my son, that’s my baby son,” he said. He also pushed back hard against any suggestion his son was involved in anything dangerous. “He’s not with the streets, the nonsense or none of that. For somebody just to kill him and shoot his girl nine times, that’s wrong.”
Whitfield’s mother, Kimberly Randleman, struggled to make sense of the violence. “He always went out of his way, took care of everybody. He would be one of the people that you could depend on,” she said. “I don’t understand why they have no respect for nobody no more. They don’t care where you are, who you with, who you’re in front of, they don’t care.”
Whitfield’s parents said they had initially worried about their son entering the towing profession. He loved the work and had never mentioned any problems. “I said, ‘Just be careful, just watch your surroundings.’ I tell them that every time he comes here,” Whitfield Sr. said.
The Suspect and the Motive
Investigators say Najee Williams owns another towing company and believe the killings stem from a towing territory dispute. Police have not established a definitive link between the two shootings, but the U.S. Marshals Service now has joined the investigation. The reward for information leading to Williams’ arrest stands at $21,500.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Philadelphia Police.
All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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