Sorrowful family of Markiese Scott, slain July 12, hopes someone helps police by coming forward with tips

Birthdays tend to be joyful occasions, but for Malika Scott, July 12 will forever be a painful reminder of the day her brother was shot to death.

"We were best friends. That was my favorite brother," said Malika, who turned 19 that day. "He had planned to have a party for my birthday."

Markiese Scott, 23, was killed when someone fired multiple shots into his vehicle after he left a bowling alley at 72nd Street and Elmwood Avenue in Southwest Philly. Scott was hit in the head at 11:20 p.m., and a 20-year-old woman with him suffered a graze wound to the back. Both were taken to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, where Scott was pronounced dead.He would have turned 24 this Saturday.

Crystal Scott, his mother, had moved her family away from the crime-ridden streets of Philly to Florida nearly four years ago. Markiese remained in Philly to attend school. Now, Crystal has returned with a mission to see her son's killer brought to justice before the end of the month, in time for her other three children, who returned with her, to return to college.

While some people have contacted her with useful information, they have been too fearful to speak to police, she said.

"My son is gone and he's never coming back," Crystal said, a single tear falling down her cheek. "People should tell. If it was your child, you would want someone to do the right thing. It takes the community to make a better community."

In many cases "a lot of people won't come forward because they are scared and some just don't want to," but those who do, can be relocated if necessary, said Homicide Lt. Mel Williams.

"We can only work with what we have," Williams said. "People aren't really coming forward."

Markiese received his EMT certification from the Philadelphia Job Corps Life Science Institute in June and had recently accepted a position with Compassionate Ambulance Service.

"Being from Philadelphia, everyone always gets hurt. He would be the one to run and try to help you," Malika said. "I [would say] the ambulance don't come fast enough and he said, 'watch when I get one.' "

He decided to enter the medical field after watching his 3-year-old brother battle heart disease before dying in 1998.

Markiese was active in student government at the Philadelphia Job Corps LSI, at 20th Street near Oregon Avenue in South Philly, and he helped cultivate a basketball team that placed third in a national tournament.

He "was dedicated, hardworking, energetic and had a fun-filled personality," said Philadelphia Jaguars coach Vince Carter. "I will never have another Markiese. He will truly be missed."

Williams said police do not have a suspect but are looking into an altercation that occurred in February at a playground near the campus.

When Markiese broke up with a woman he had been dating for two months, Crystal said, the woman brought a man to campus who beat Markiese with brass knuckles. Police have no record of the incident but Crystal said the woman was expelled from the school and Markiese was hospitalized. Later that month his car was broken into.

"He was a guy everybody loved," Crystal said. "It's so hard. I'm just overwhelmed."

Anyone with information into his murder can call homicide detectives at 215-686-3334.