Motorcyclist killed in hit-and-run, 5 teens in stolen vehicle arrested, police say

Five teenagers tried to flee the scene after a 17-year-old boy driving a stolen vehicle struck and killed a motorcycle rider in North Philadelphia, police said.

The teens were inside a Kia that was traveling northbound on Front Street just after 8 p.m. Tuesday. Investigators said the driver inside the Kia, later identified as 17-year-old Bryce Neely, was speeding and ran through a red light. Video obtained by NBC10 appeared to show police pursuing the Kia.

A spokesperson with the Philadelphia Police Department confirmed that two officers have been placed on administrative duty as the department investigates the incident.

Moments later, the Kia crashed into a 55-year-old Harley-Davidson motorcycle rider who was traveling west on Hunting Park Avenue, investigators said.

After the crash, Neely continued driving for about 1,000 feet on Front Street, police said. Neely as well as four teen girls between the ages of 14 and 17 then got out of the SUV and fled on foot in different directions as responding police officers chased after them for about two blocks, investigators said.

The officers captured all five of the teenagers and took them into custody.

The motorcyclist, later identified as Wilberto Casillas of Philadelphia, was pronounced dead at the scene at 8:18 p.m.

Police said the Kia the five teenagers were in had been stolen on Monday, May 27, in Northeast Philadelphia.

Neely is charged with murder in the 3rd degree, accidents involving death, homicide by vehicle, fleeing and eluding a police officer, accidents involving death while not licensed, criminal conspiracy, theft, involuntary manslaughter and other related offenses.

The four teen passengers are all charged with receiving stolen property, conspiracy, evading arrest and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.

On Wednesday, Casillas' sister, Maria Torres Casillas, questioned why police were pursuing the teens moments before the deadly crash.

"I really want to let them know that when things like this happen, and you're pursuing someone, you have to be careful of what you do," she said. "Don't pursue them. They're kids because what's going to happen is what happened here last night. An innocent bystander or somebody innocent is going to die. Like my brother did."

She told NBC10 that her brother was a husband and father of five children.

"He's going to be missed," she said. "Everything is like a slow motion movie. Like everything is foggy. Like you can't believe this is happening."

Friends said the deadly crash occurred near the auto repair shop that Casillas owned.

"He owns a garage and he's taught so many kids," Emerald Martez, a family friend, told NBC10. "I mean, just the other day he gave some bicycles away to some of the kids outside. Like, he's a really good man that we lost yesterday. It's just really like surreal."

Maria Torres Casillas described her brother as a family man.

"He was humble," she said. "He was well-loved by the community. He would help all the other little kids who will miss him because every time they have a flat tire, they run to the garage because they know he will fix their flat tire."