A family is mourning the loss of a beloved single mother, who was fatally shot in the drive-thru of a Dunkin’ Donuts. Police haven’t found a suspect, and the family is demanding justice.
According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, 35-year-old Rachel King, a Philadephia charter school teacher, was sitting in her SUV at a Dunkin’ Donuts drive-thru in Cheltenham last week on a Tuesday morning. After the Dunkin’ run, she and her 11-year-old son, Jalen, were going to head to his violin practice.
That’s when the perpetrator approached King’s vehicle and shot her multiple times in front of Jalen.
Authorities ruled the incident a “targeted murder” and are still probing for the killer.
The news of King’s death devastated her family. They’re calling for justice.
“We’re praying for swift justice,” pastor and King’s father, Allen King Jr., told reporters. “Because there are consequences to actions and behaviors. …And we want justice as it is described by the laws of our land, to be in full effect.”
While police call the murder “targeted,” King’s 28-year-old brother, Matt, couldn’t grasp why anyone would intentionally murder his sister.
“Where is this killer?” he questioned. “…We need to find out who this person is.”
Although all of King’s family is grief-stricken by the events, Jalen takes his mother’s death the hardest, especially after witnessing her death in person.
“He’s struggling,” King’s other brother, Allen King III, said. “He’s talking, he’s eating, but it’s shock. He’s carrying around a picture of his mother, my sister, everywhere he goes. Won’t let it go.”
King’s family is planning her funeral and wants people to remember her as an upbeat and bright person with a “knee-slapping” sense of humor.
“Rachel was loved by so many people,” Matt said. “Her energy was ‘I’m going to make sure you love me.’ To know Rachel is to love Rachel.”
King taught history for 10 years at Grover Cleaveland Mastery Charter School. She adored her students as they did her.
The family created a GoFundMe to help with funeral expenses.
