Vigil held for man beaten to death in Mayfair

MAYFAIR (WPVI) -- By candlelight, the Cullen family addressed a large crowd of friends, neighborhood residents and even strangers Wednesday night on the Mayfair corner where their 57-year-old loved one, Kevin, was beaten to death by a group of teens two nights prior.

Relative Tom Cullen choked up as he told the crowd, "Kevin was a brother, a nephew, an uncle, a cousin, a friend."

A resident's home surveillance video shows the 57-year-old walk down the 4200 block of Loring Street, then a group of teens follow. Seconds later, out of the frame, Cullen is bludgeoned and the teens scatter.

"It doesn't bring him back," said Mark Cullen, Kevin's brother. "It doesn't matter if it was a teenager, an adult. Just to be that vicious. Kevin wouldn't harm anyone."

Neighbor Jennifer Wall unknowingly picked up a piece of evidence, a cell phone that belonged to one of the attackers.

"I thought it was the neighbor's," said Wall. "Someone started calling and it had a name on it so I answered it and they hung up."

She said she then turned the phone over to police.

Other residents said this is not an uncommon occurrence in the neighborhood.

"It happens all the time around here," said Donna Fricker. "It's just not reported because it's small crime."

Many who live in the area have been left on edge, and are now working to form a block watch.

"That could have been my dad," said resident Elizabeth Wedge. "That could have been me."

The Cullens are asking for Kevin's killers to do the right thing.

"I would not want anyone to have to go through this, or these individuals to hurt anyone else," said Mark Cullen.

Those who attended the vigil started a collection for Cullen's funeral costs.

The family asked that the donated money go toward a reward for the arrest and conviction of Kevin's killer.

Cullen's funeral is scheduled for Saturday.

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