Suspect in custody, another on the loose in 2018 murder of Philly teen girl

A man is in custody while a second suspect remains on the loose in connection to the deadly 2018 shooting of a teen girl in West Philadelphia, officials announced on Friday.

Investigators identified Devin Bryant, 26, and Salik White, 26, as the suspects in the murder of 17-year-old Sandrea Williams.

Bryant turned himself in on Tuesday, May 14, officials said. He remains in custody without bail on charges of murder, attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, aggravated assault, multiple violations of the uniform firearms act, possession of an instrument of crime, simple assault and recklessly endangering another person.

White remains on the loose. Anyone with information on his whereabouts should call Philadelphia Police.

The murder of Sandrea Williams

Williams and two other teens were on the 300 block of Simpson Street back on May 12, 2018, when gunmen opened fire. All three teens were shot. Williams died from her injuries while the other two teens survived.

Investigators said the shooting was part of an ongoing feud between two Philadelphia gangs, one associated with 61st and Jefferson streets and the other associated with 60th to 64th streets and Callowhill. Members of the 61st and Jefferson gang believed members of the rival gang were on the 300 block of Simpson Street that day, according to investigators.

"Williams had nothing to do with those groups," Assistant District Attorney Jeffrey Palmer said during a Friday afternoon press conference.

While Williams wasn't involved in any gang, officials said her murder escalated a feud between the neighborhood groups that left at least 28 people dead in a two-year span.

Meanwhile, Williams' murder remained unsolved for several years before investigators identified Bryant and White as the suspects.

"Our tears and our prayers brought us to this day"

In addition to Palmer, Williams' family members, Mayor Cherelle Parker, Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner and First Deputy Commissioner John Stanford all attended Friday's press conference announcing the arrest.

"To my family, it’s been six years. Six long years, but our tears and our prayers brought us to this day," Williams' aunt Naisha Rhoden said during the press conference.

Rhoden said Williams -- who grew up in Jamaica before moving to Philadelphia -- had dreams of joining the military in order to take care of her grandmother.

"So, my brother joined the military and she wanted to follow my brother’s footsteps," Rhoden said.

Rhoden also said her own daughter -- who initially had no interest in the military -- later joined in order to honor Williams.

"So, about two weeks ago she graduated and when I watched her walk across that stage with Sandrea’s picture on top of her hat, I just wished it was her instead of my daughter," Rhoden said.

Rhoden thanked the Philadelphia Police Department and all of the investigators involved who helped break the cold case.

"They never forgot about Sandrea," Rhoden said. "We missed the birthday parties. We missed the graduations. But we will always keep her memories alive.”