Emotions pour from Luz Sanchez when she speaks about her son Manuel.
"He was not a fighter, he was a good son," said Sanchez.
The 25-year-old was an aspiring rap artist, who went by the name Don Chino, and can be seen in a number of YouTube videos.
His family says he was well known in the community and opposed violence, especially gun violence.
"He was in the process of writing a song for the victims of the Newtown, Connecticut, the young children that got killed," said Brenda Rivera, sister.
Just before 1:00 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 20, Manuel and a friend were walking home from a nearby Chinese restaurant in Port Richmond.
Police say when they arrived on the 2000 block of Castor Avenue they were confronted by two men.
Manuel's friend says the men demanded that they "Give it up."
Police say the suspects opened fire when they discovered Manuel and his friend only had a pack of cigarettes.
"My brother took a bullet to the heart," said Rivera.
Manuel was pronounced dead at the hospital.
A couple of days later, his family received a package.
"After a couple of days the IDs turned up in the mail," said Rivera.
Manuel's friend, who was injured that night, tells police he doesn't know the two men.
Manuel's family is hoping a reward urges someone to come forward with information.
"We want to bring this to rest because I know that right now it's driving us crazy every night not knowing," said Rivera.
The Citizens Crime Commission is administered a $3,000 reward and the City of Philadelphia is posting up to $20,000 for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of those responsible.
Anyone with information can anonymously call 215-546-TIPS (8477) or 215-686-TIPS (8477).
