Slain Roxborough student laid to rest

Mayor Michael Nutter joined the family and classmates of Roxborough High student Christopher Foster in mourning today.

He quietly entered Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Germantown as services for the slain teen began, and when called upon, he spoke directly to Foster’s family.

“The city has been affected by this tragedy,” he said. “The school family has been affected, the young people have been affected – the whole city.”

Foster was shot to death on Jan. 19 somewhere between his home in Roxborough and Morris Street in Germantown. Police found his body on Woodlawn Street near Morris Street that evening with no identification, except that he was wearing a Roxborough High School shirt.

So far, no arrests have been made in the case but Nutter was determined that would change.

“On behalf of the city of Philadelphia we will do all we can to find the people responsible and bring them to justice,” he said.

The son of Philadelphia photojournalist William Foster, Christopher, 18, was just setting off on his own creative life when he was killed. He had taken to the keyboard and was spending his first period class at Roxborough High learning new songs from friend Josh Myers, who played and sung for him during the service.

“The last time I saw him, we were kicked out of class for staying too long and playing into the next period,” Myers said.

At least a hundred of his friends gathered outside the church following the service. Many, like Dominic Monteleone, who was a pallbearer and had known Foster since preschool, couldn’t make sense of why this had happened to his friend – who was so well known for his good humor.

Through tears, Monteleone said Foster would be remembered, “As the best kid ever. The happiest kid ever.”

The Daily News reported that Foster was abducted on the night of Jan. 19 near his home and his body was dumped only minutes later in Germantown. But his friends say he was not involved with anything illegal, and they didn’t know of any enemies. On the contrary, many said, Foster was was well-liked and friendly to everyone.

Anyone with more information on Foster’s death can call the homicide unit at 215-686-3334.