Community gathers in West Philadelphia as search continues for missing 10-year-old Jalayshia Allford – CBS News

Community gathers in West Philadelphia as search continues for missing 10-year-old Jalayshia Allford  CBS News

Community members gathered Wednesday night in West Philadelphia as concern continued to grow for 10-year-old Malayshia Alford, who has been missing for more than a week.Neighbors, relatives and people who knew Malayshia personally came together near North Simpson Street, where she was last seen. Federal and local investigators continue to follow leads in her disappearance.Among those who gathered were Malayshia's aunt and uncle on her father's side."She's very sweet, very soft-spoken," Nyfisha Alford, her aunt, said. "Just all around a good little girl."Alford and her brother, Nafis Horne, said Malayshia was in foster care when she disappeared, but stressed that her biological family remains deeply concerned about her."We're still waiting for answers," Horne said.

"We're out here basically feet on the ground looking for answers for my niece."Several neighbors who joined the gathering said the disappearance has weighed heavily on the community."She's only 10," neighbor Theresa Smalley said. "She can't defend herself."Another neighbor, Valerie Billups-Morton, said she is praying for the girl's safe return."I just pray whoever did something don't harm this little girl," she said.Others at the gathering knew Malayshia from school.Tashonna Moore, who said she taught Malayshia in an after-school program last year, described her as a sweet child and said she has been worried since learning she was missing."I want to know where she's at, like what's