Pocono News Section

Murder Victim's Friends and Family want Killer to Come Forward

Murder Victim's Friends and Family want Killer to Come Forward - Wednesday, October 14, 2009 at 5:25PM EST

Reported by: Laurie Monteforte
Wednesday, Oct 14, 2009 @ 05:25pm EDT
EAST STROUDSBURG, MONROE COUNTY - A killer has been on the loose for four days. Someone shot Antoine Leaver to death in the Poconos early Sunday morning.

Family and friends put together a small memorial of candles and flowers near the spot where he died. He was shot on the entrance ramp for Interstate 80 west bound in East Stroudsburg.

Paster Valerie Foster visited the memorial to say a prayer for Antoine Leaver's family. She explained, "I came out just to pray and ask for God to just give peace to this mother and to his siblings."

The pastor also prayed for the shooter to come forward. She said, "You can stop some of the pain if you come forward on your own."

Eric Amhurst also wants the shooter to admit what happened. He said, "Death is forever and there's no way that we can bring him back. It's heartbreaking for his family and his friends."

Eric was Antoine's friend and neighbor. He also works at Pocono Medical Center where Antoine was pronounced dead. He said, "I was just really upset. I ended up having to leave early from work that day."

Each day he parks near the memorial for his friend. He said, "It's just hard coming in here every morning and seeing that. It's just a constant reminder."

Antoine was just 25 years old. He was a Lance Corporal in the Marines and served two tours of duty in Iraq. Amhurst remembered, "He was always willing to like help everyone. He was very friendly and a happy person."

His family will lay him to rest on Sunday. They're not sure he will be able to rest in peace until police catch the killer. Eric said, "I really wish that that person would come forward or something would happen so his family and friends could have some kind of closure."