Mother of 4 beaten to death with brick in North Philadelphia attack

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- A 45-year-old woman was killed in a brutal attack in North Philadelphia early Sunday morning.

Police said the victim, identified as Keisha Farlow, was beaten with a brick and stomped in an alleyway on North 24th Street around 2 a.m. Sunday.

Surveillance video obtained as part of the investigation shows a man throwing the woman to the ground in the alley. Due to the graphic nature of the footage, Action News is not showing the most violent portions. It reveals how the attacker repeatedly struck Farlow in the head with a brick, before stomping on her face and chest.

Police said they are searching for the man seen in the video, as well as another man who was allegedly involved in the attack. After the assault, investigators said, the suspects left the scene with Farlow's purse. The purse was later recovered a few blocks away, emptied of its contents.

Neighbors and community members expressed outrage and disbelief over the killing, describing Farlow as a person who kept to herself and was friendly.

"We are human beings at the end of the day. I do something wrong to you, we don't talk. But there are demons out here," said Darnel Henry of North Philadelphia.

Others said they could not understand how someone could carry out such a violent act against someone they viewed as harmless.

"She didn't cause no problems with nobody. She did what she did; that was how she lived. But she was at peace with it. But for her to be dead in that alleyway, nobody should go out like that," Henry added.

Alexia Zia, also of North Philadelphia, said the community is hoping for justice.

"I hope whoever did it, I hope that justice will be brought because she didn't seem to bother anybody in this community, and I just don't understand it," Zia said.

Farlow is survived by four children, including an 11-month-old baby.

Police are asking anyone with information about the case to contact 215-686-TIPS.