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Search Is On For The Man Blamed For Deaths Of 2 Young People

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- The killings have torn apart families across Baltimore. Police describe a ruthless killer who shot a teenager in the head, then days later, rammed his car into a family's minivan, killing a little girl.

Mike Hellgren has more on the search that's underway right now.

Police believe he's injured, that he may have gotten treatment somewhere and that someone may be hiding him. However, they have a limited description; just that he is of average build, wearing a t-shirt and jeans. Family members of his victims are demanding justice.

Two children--killed just days apart on city streets. Oscar Torres, 15, a budding artist who helped support his family, was shot in the head blocks from his home in Southwest Baltimore on Memorial Day. An armed robbery.

His heartbroken father remembers when police showed up at his door with a picture.

"'You see this guy?' That's my son. What happened? 'He's dead.' What? 'Do you see your son? Dead,'" the victim's father, Francisco Torres, said.

Police believe the same man who killed his son stole a car at the scene. Two days later, after plain clothes detectives spotted him driving it in East Baltimore, he began to speed and slammed into a family's minivan, killing 12-year-old honor student Shanizya Taft.

"We absolutely have to find him. And that's going to happen with the public's help," said Lt. Eric Kowalczyk, Baltimore City Police.

"In this neighborhood, in the whole society, life doesn't seem to be worth much," said Brendan Walsh, co-founder of Viva House.

Walsh runs Viva house, which helps the less fortunate. It was outside his building where Oscar Torres was gunned down.

"The most painful thing was to see his father on the ground with water trying to wipe the blood off the concrete," Walsh said.

"Nobody see nothing, nobody talk. Why? It's impossible," Francisco Torres said.

"The person apparently is desperate. And God knows what else could happen if they don't find out where he is," said Walsh.

The Torres family is now trying to raise money for a funeral.

If you have any information that could help police, you are asked to call Metro Crime Stoppers at 1-866-7-LOCKUP. You can remain anonymous.

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