Young Vincy shot dead in Philadelphia

A Philadelphia town is mourning the loss of a Vincentian national, who through his love and dedication to youths was making a world of difference.{{more}}

Veno Leigertwood Jr, 31, was shot once in the back of his head outside his Yeadon, Philadelphia, home on Saturday, September 13, in what the Philadelphia Inquirer of Sunday, September 14, described as execution style.

“They have taken a part of me…they have literally torn my heart out,” said his mother, Police Corporal Viola Leigertwood, who migrated to the United States from St Vincent 27 years ago.

Veno, who was a Philadelphia School District counselor, was on his way to his last graduate class at Penn State University, before earning his Master’s degree in Business Administration, when his fruitful life was viciously ended.

He leaves behind his wife of five years, Raven. The two have been together for 10 years and have a seven-month-old daughter.

Before his untimely death, Leigertwood worked with the Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Program (GEAR UP).

The program takes low-income seventh graders, guides them through their senior year in high school, and helps them get into colleges. The students receive academic support, including summer programmes, mentoring and exposure to the college recruitment process.

Just this month, Leigertwood was named as the managing coordinator of the program.

A priest, who lives nearby Leigertwood’s home, saw his body by his car and notified the police. An autopsy report said that he died from a single gunshot wound to the neck.

His broken-hearted mother told SEARCHLIGHT that her son was a very loving, kindhearted young man, who was very committed to his family.

“We travelled together a lot. We always took cruises together. He loved to travel,” she said.

Veno was also very helpful when it came to caring for his father, Veno Sr., who has been ill for the last fifteen years, after he suffered a stroke.

“They have taken the life of a great young man, an educated young man, a mentor,’ said his mother.

Leigertwood was scheduled to be buried yesterday, following a funeral that was expected to include the who’s who of Yeadon, including the Mayor, Jacqueline B. Mosley.