Charles Campbell Jr. lavished attention on his four daughters and baby son. Even though some of his children had different mothers, he made sure to gather them together as one family, booking hotel rooms multiple times a year so that they could order room service, go swimming, and pick out toys at Five Below.
After his niece lost her father in a house fire, Charles brought her into the fold to the point that neighbors assumed that she was his sixth child. For July 4, Charles bought all the kids hoagies and cheesesteaks and sat them on top of his van to watch the fireworks.
He was the fun dad, reluctant to discipline his children, recalled Charles’ sister, Michaela Wulf.
“I had to remind him that you’re the dad,” she said. “You put that stern voice on and you scare them that way.”
Under constant pressure to provide for his large family, Charles maintained his composure.
“No matter how many times a person pushed his button, he was never disrespectful,” Michaela said.
Charles’ odd jobs managing a bar or working at a meat factory or Little Caesar’s weren’t enough to give his kids the life that he wanted for them, family members said. He spent more than a year in prison on drug-related charges.
“I think he felt trapped,” said his former girlfriend, Carmen Herrera. “We had a lot of conversations where he wanted to get out of the lifestyle. He just couldn’t…He did what he felt was right for him to survive.”
On May 15, 2021 just before 10 p.m., Charles was fatally shot in the 7400 block of Fayette Street in Philadelphia’s Mount Airy section. Surveillance video showed a suspect wearing a black hooded sweatshirt with a “Civil Regime” logo fleeing the scene. Police have made no arrests.
Born on November 24, 1989 in North Philadelphia, a young Charles was known to crack sarcastic jokes, draw realistic renderings of cartoon characters—his favorite was Scooby-Doo — and protect his brother from bullies.
As he grew older, he became a stylish dresser, wearing Puma tracksuits and Nike Air Force 1 and New Balance sneakers. After wearing the shoes twice, he rotated them out for a new pair and gave the gently worn ones to family and friends.
Carmen met Charles in the ninth grade at Esperanza Academy Charter School in North Philadelphia. A talented point guard, he amassed a ton of basketball trophies, including Most Valuable Player.
The two developed a friendship, with Charles stealing Carmen’s snacks and asking her to hold his books in her locker because his was too messy. They began dating a couple years later, after Carmen transferred schools.
After Charles graduated, he moved in with Carmen and her mother and lived there on and off for five years. The couple has a daughter together.
For her first birthday, Charles and Carmen rented a hall, a clown, and a magician, and presented her with a princess castle cake. From the ages of 2 to 5, she received a new toy nearly every day from her dad.
“His heart was always pure,” Carmen said, adding that Charles was affectionate and handy around the house. “We always had each other’s backs.”
Charles’ other children are ages one through 10.
“He would drop anything he was doing to make sure his kids were fine,” remembered Charles’ younger brother, Kahmar Durant-Robinson.
Charles was overjoyed when his only son was born in early 2021, Kahmar remembered. He was an active father, who organized his life around his children. He made sure to spend every day with them, shuttling them to doctor’s appointments, picking them up from school and watching their dance recitals.
For Christmas Eve, he rented out a hotel room in University City and piled it high with gifts. His overjoyed daughters ran around screaming, Kahmar recalled. He and the girls wore matching pajamas and choreographed a TikTok video.
Charles attended the Pennsylvania College of Technology in Williamsport, but struggled academically and left after one year.
He enjoyed traveling and shared a love for gambling with his mother. A couple playing cards were tucked into his casket.
Charles also wowed his family with his cooking skills and signature recipes, particularly his creamy macaroni and cheese. He considered opening up a food truck or a restaurant someday.
Thanksgiving was one of his favorite holidays, because he was in charge of deep-frying the turkey and slow-cooking the candied yams. He sometimes guilted Michaela into attending family activities, because it was so important to him that everyone be present. Before his death, he was planning his mom’s 50th birthday celebration in Atlantic City.
When his niece’s dad died, Charles stepped in immediately as a father figure to the six-year-old. “I got you now,” he told her.
Yet he acknowledged his shortcomings, and wanted all his children to have the success that eluded him.
“Don’t be like me,” he counseled them. “Be better.”
A reward of up to $20,000 if available to anyone that comes forward with information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the persons responsible for Charles Campbell Jr.’s murder. Anonymous calls can be submitted by calling the Citizens Crime Commission at 215-546-TIPS. Information can also be submitted to the Philadelphia Police Department online or by calling 215-686-TIPS.
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