Man brutally beat mother of 4 with bricks and stomped on her face to death before running off with her purse: Police

A Pennsylvania man is facing murder and robbery charges after authorities say he brutally attacked a mother of four in a North Philadelphia alleyway, beating her with bricks and stomping on her face and chest before fleeing with her purse.

The victim, 45-year-old Keisha Furlow, was found dead in an alley near her home early on the morning of June 7, 2026. Investigators allege that the attack was captured on surveillance video and that the suspect later abandoned the victim’s purse after removing its contents.

Mother of Four Found Dead in North Philadelphia Alley

According to the Philadelphia Police Department, first responders discovered Keisha Furlow lying in an alley near North Opal Street in North Philadelphia. Police said she had suffered severe injuries to her face and head and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Investigators recovered two bloodied bricks near her body, which authorities believe were used during the fatal assault. Medical examiners later determined that Furlow died from blunt force trauma.

Furlow, who lived nearby, was remembered as a mother of four children, including an infant less than a year old.

Discovery of the Crime Scene

Police said emergency personnel arrived at the alley shortly after 6 a.m. and found Furlow suffering from extensive facial injuries. The brutality of the attack immediately led investigators to suspect homicide.

Evidence recovered from the scene included two bricks covered in blood. Authorities believe the attack occurred several hours earlier, around 2 a.m., when the victim was confronted in the alley.

Surveillance Video Captured the Violent Attack

Investigators reviewed surveillance footage from the area that allegedly recorded the deadly assault.

According to police and court documents, the video appears to show a man approaching Furlow while holding a brick. The suspect allegedly threw her to the ground before repeatedly striking her in the head with the brick.

Authorities said the footage further shows the attacker kicking and stomping on the victim’s face and chest after she was already on the ground.

Suspect Allegedly Robbed Victim After Assault

Following the beating, police say the attacker fled the area with Furlow’s purse.

Investigators later recovered the purse several blocks away. According to authorities, it had been emptied of its contents before being discarded.

Police initially stated that they believed more than one person may have been involved in the incident and released surveillance images while searching for suspects.

Arrest Made After Public Search

As the investigation progressed, Philadelphia police identified 30-year-old Dawaun Lewis as the primary suspect.

Authorities announced that Lewis was taken into custody after officers located him near his residence. Following his arrest, investigators confirmed that he was the individual depicted in surveillance images released earlier in the week.

Charges Filed Against Suspect

Court records show that Lewis has been charged with multiple offenses, including:

• Murder
• Robbery causing serious bodily injury
• Theft by unlawful taking
• Receiving stolen property
• Possessing an instrument of crime with intent

Police said the charges stem from allegations that Lewis carried out the fatal assault and stole the victim’s belongings following the attack.

Investigation Revealed Disturbing Details

Investigators said the evidence collected from the scene, combined with surveillance footage and witness information, helped establish a timeline of the attack.

Authorities believe the assault began when the suspect confronted Furlow in the alley. The encounter quickly escalated into extreme violence, with the victim allegedly struck multiple times by bricks before being stomped.

The presence of two bloodied bricks at the scene supported investigators’ belief that the objects were used as weapons during the attack.

Questions Remain About Possible Accomplice

During the early stages of the investigation, police indicated there may have been a second individual connected to the crime.

Authorities stated that surveillance footage and witness accounts suggested another person may have been present before the victim’s purse was taken.

As of the latest updates, police have continued to investigate whether anyone else played a role in the robbery and killing.

Community Shocked by Brutal Killing

The killing generated widespread outrage throughout Philadelphia due to the level of violence involved and the fact that the victim was a mother raising four children.

Residents left flowers and messages near the location where Furlow was found. Community members expressed grief over the loss and called for justice for her family.

The case also sparked discussions about violent street crime and robbery-related attacks in the city, with many residents describing the circumstances of the murder as particularly disturbing.

Family Left Mourning Loss

Friends, neighbors, and loved ones remembered Furlow as a devoted mother whose death has left a profound impact on those who knew her.

Her children now face life without their mother after what police describe as a senseless act of violence committed during a robbery.

Court Proceedings Ahead

Following his arrest, Dawaun Lewis was scheduled to be arraigned on the charges filed against him. Court records indicate that further hearings are expected as prosecutors move forward with the case.

The Philadelphia Police Department has stated that the investigation remains active and that detectives continue to review evidence related to the homicide.

As the case proceeds through the judicial system, authorities say they remain focused on securing justice for Keisha Furlow and her family.

The killing of the 45-year-old mother of four stands as one of the most shocking homicide cases reported in Philadelphia this year, with investigators alleging that a robbery escalated into a fatal attack involving bricks, repeated blows, and stomping that ultimately claimed her life.