Loved ones held a balloon release for a 14-year-old boy who was killed after being shot 18 times in Philadelphia on Monday. Police arrested two men in the boy’s murder and are looking for three other suspects.
What to Know
- Two men have been charged in the execution-style murder of a 14-year-old boy who was chased and shot 18 times in Philadelphia on Monday afternoon.
- Quadir Johnson, 21, and Kyair Garnett, 21, were both arrested and charged in the murder of Samir Jefferson.
- Police are also obtaining arrest warrants for three other men they say were involved in Jefferson's death.
Editor's Note: The name and age of one of the suspects have been updated to reflect information from court documents.
Two men have been charged in the execution-style murder of a 14-year-old boy who was chased and shot 18 times in Philadelphia on Monday afternoon.
Quadir Johnson, 21, and Kyair Garnett, 21, were both arrested in the murder of Samir Jefferson. Both men are charged with murder, conspiracy, violation of the uniform firearms act, possession of an instrument of crime, reckless endangerment, tampering with evidence and other related offenses.
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Garnett is also charged with receipt of stolen property and unauthorized use of automobile. Garnett had an outstanding bench warrant out of Montgomery County at the time of his arrest, officials said.
Police are also obtaining arrest warrants for three other men they say were involved in Jefferson's death.
Jefferson was standing on the corner of Rising Sun and Wyoming avenues in the Feltonville neighborhood around 3:30 p.m. Monday waiting for a bus when multiple gunmen exited a vehicle, approached him and opened fire.
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Samir fled as the gunmen chased him and fired at least 36 shots. The 14-year-old was shot at least 18 times throughout his body and collapsed on the sidewalk. He was taken to Temple University Hospital and pronounced dead just after 4 p.m.
Samir's sister -- who asked not to be named -- said her family is heartbroken as her mother "lost her youngest son."
"It's really not going to be the same without my little brother because he really brung joy to our family," she said.
The gunmen fled in a vehicle. A vehicle matching that description was stopped by police at the intersection of 5th Street and Somerville Avenue.
Two men considered persons of interest were taken into police custody on Monday. Police have not yet revealed if those men were Johnson and Garnett.
Police are still getting arrest warrants for three more men who they identified as suspects in the teen boy's murder. They have not released their identities.
Samir's family called for justice and the arrest of his killers.
“What did you gain except for becoming a murderer, except for taking somebody else’s child?" asked one of Samir's family members.
Despite the arrests, police have not yet determined a motive in the shooting.
Several bullet holes could be seen in the wall of a pharmacy near where the shooting took place. Someone wrote "RIP Samir" on the sidewalk.
"Earlier today, we lost another young life to senseless gun violence--the fourth since yesterday," Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw said Monday. "My heart grieves for the victims, their families, and this city. While we cannot bring back those lost, the Philadelphia Police Department will ensure that these cases are fully investigated so that these victims and their families receive closure and justice."
The murder occurred a day after a 16-year-old boy was shot eight times in North Philadelphia. A 21-year-old Temple University student was also shot and killed during an off-campus robbery Sunday afternoon.
So far this year there have been at least 508 homicides, making 2021 the deadliest year on record in Philadelphia.
At least 198 children have been shot in Philadelphia this year, Philadelphia police said. At least 40 of those children died -- a total that is more than the number of children killed over the past two years combined.
There are additional resources for people or communities that have endured gun violence in Philadelphia. Further information can be found here.
