NEWS INFORMATION FROM

THE OFFICE OF MAYOR STEPHEN R. REED
City of Harrisburg
King City Government Center
Harrisburg, PA 17101-1678
Telephone: 717.255.3040

FOR IMMEDIATE USE
2 March 2004

POLICE SEARCH FOR MURDER SUSPECT IN SHOOTING DEATH OF 14-YEAR OLD

Harrisburg, PA—Mayor Stephen R. Reed today said Harrisburg City Police are searching for suspects in the early morning shooting death of 14-year old William K. Jordan, whose body was found early this morning at the intersection of Monroe and Herr Streets. Jordan was killed by a single gunshot wound to the chest.

The Mayor said police were called to the scene by a passing motorist around 12:30 a.m. and arriving units found Jordan’s body lying face down on Monroe Street, just to the north of Herr Street. Police know that the boy was alone minutes earlier when he purchased snacks at a nearby mini-mart. Jordan still had the change from his purchases in his pocket, leading police to believe that robbery was not a motive in the case.

Reed said the police have few leads in the case and no witnesses have yet been identified. Anyone with any knowledge of the case, or any information concerning Jordan’s activities in the previous few days, are urged to call the Harrisburg Bureau of Police at 717.255.3131.

“As a society, nation and community, we lament the death of any young person to a crime of violence,” said Mayor Reed. “All of this is avoidable. It speaks to the need for a community to rise up in opposition to the factors that spawn such senseless tragedy—truancy, drug use and ignorance.

“The government and the police are never the final answer. The police make many arrests but they can never regulate nor control the actions of every citizen. As parents, citizens, educators and community members, we must create an environment in which this nonsense is neither tolerated nor allowed and teach our children accordingly.”

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