PHILADELPHIA — A grassroots campaign is raising funds to honor Marcus Yates, a 5-year-old boy killed in a Philadelphia candy store in 1988, with a long-overdue headstone.
What happened?
On July 18, 1988, Marcus walked into a corner store with his older brothers, Malcolm and Tony. They carried a few coins and joined nearly a dozen children browsing the narrow aisles. Moments later, two men entered and began arguing. One slapped a soda bottle from the other’s hand and threw a punch. Then, gunfire erupted.
The man near the doorway pulled a handgun and fired. The second man shot back. Bullets shattered glass and sent children diving for cover. A bullet struck Marcus in the head. Gunfire hit Malcolm twice—once in the hip and once in the foot. Another boy sustained injuries.
When the shooting stopped, Tony dropped beside Marcus and tried to stop the bleeding. Blood pooled on the floor. Someone ran into the street to flag down help. Police and paramedics arrived quickly. Marcus was rushed to the hospital but died that afternoon.
GoFundMe Headstone for Marcus Yates
For 37 years, Marcus has rested in an unmarked grave…