Teen shot to death, robbed

A teen with dreams of joining the Navy was gunned down in North Philadelphia on his way to pick up dinner for his mother and brothers.

"It's a senseless killing," said homicide Capt. James Clark. "It's a cold-blooded killing."

Dwayne Canty, 17, apparently was randomly targeted after leaving his home shortly after 7 p.m. Tuesday in the 2100 block of North Newkirk Street.

His family had just celebrated the inauguration of President Obama, said Canty's mother, Nakisha Ramsey.

"He thought it was a good sign that a black man was president," she said yesterday, tears streaming down her face. "He thought things could change."

Ramsey said that she and her three sons - Dwayne, Deandre, 16, and Darnell, 19 - had moved here several years ago from Savannah, Ga., and planned to move back there because "things were getting too rough."

"I was scared this exact same thing would happen," she said. "Now when we go down for the funeral, we're not coming back."

She said Dwayne, who was earning his G.E.D. and wanted to join the Navy, had worked at a McDonald's for the last seven months and had just been paid. She said he gave her $200 and kept some of the money for himself. He was on his way to buy some fried chicken for her when he was shot, she said.

"We were laughing and joking when he left about what he was going to get me for a Valentine's gift," she said. "He would never hurt anyone. All he wanted was to take care of his family."

Police said Dwayne was confronted near a vacant lot, close to Susquehanna Avenue, by two or more robbers who demanded his money, Clark said.

Detectives could not confirm whether he put up a fight as the robbers stole between $120 and $140. Clark said Dwayne was shot several times, with at least one .45-caliber gun, before the robbers fled. It's possible there were two shooters, he said.

As neighbors and relatives rushed to the scene, Dwayne was taken to Temple University Hospital. He was pronounced dead a short while later.

Yesterday, detectives canvassed the neighborhood for information as relatives made funeral arrangements.

"It's senseless and we're going to do our best to bring these individuals to justice," Clark said.

Clark urged anyone who witnessed the murder or may have information about the gunmen to contact detectives at 215-686-3334.

"We're asking for the public's help," Clark said. "If anyone has information regarding these cold-blooded killers who did this job, contact the Philadelphia Police Department."