Authorities say Nicolas Elizalde was an innocent victim caught in the crossfire when five gunmen shot him dead and wounded four other teens near Philadelphia’s Roxborough High School. His mother remembered Nicolas as a “gentle soul” who had a bright future tragically cut short.
A 21-year-old man has been arrested and charged in the death of a 14-year-old boy following a shooting that left four other teens wounded in Philadelphia last month.
Yaaseen Bivins is charged with murder, four counts of aggravated assault and related charges in the death of Nicolas Elizalde after a football scrimmage outside Roxborough High School last month, the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office announced Wednesday.
Police believe Nicolas was merely an innocent bystander caught in the crossfire. The gunmen apparently targeted a specific group as they unleashed a barrage of bullets behind Roxborough High School on Sept. 27.
The gunmen arrived in a sports utility vehicle. It stayed parked near the area of the scrimmage for about six minutes, waiting for the scrimmage between three schools to finish, police said. Other players passed the SUV, but the gunmen waited for a specific group to walk by before they jumped out and began firing.
Get top local stories in Philly delivered to you every morning. Sign up for NBC Philadelphia's News Headlines newsletter.
The shooters fired at least 61 bullets, Philadelphia Police Department Homicide Capt. Jason Smith said. One of the bullets struck Elizalde in the chest, killing him.
All five gunmen got away in the light-colored Ford Explorer, and police believe a sixth suspect was behind the wheel.
Investigators were able to track down Bivins after finding a receipt for the purchase of ammunition inside the vehicle believed to have been used in the shooting, Philadelphia Police Department Chief Inspector Frank Vanore said. That receipt showed Bivins had purchased bullets at a South Philadelphia gun shop despite his status as a felon.
Federal officials were then able to arrest Bivins for purchasing ammunition despite being ineligible to do so, Vanore said. After that, detectives obtained more evidence that linked Bivins to the shooting, eventually determining that the same bullets he had purchased were also used in the incident, according to the police inspector.
Also charged in the shooting is 16-year-old Dayron Burney-Thorn, whom police have labeled “the person responsible” for the shooting. An arrest warrant on murder, attempted murder and other counts has been issued for the teen, who remains at large and is considered armed and dangerous. Detectives have been working with Burney-Thorn's family to get him to turn himself in, Vanore said.
There are additional resources for people or communities that have endured gun violence in Philadelphia. Further information can be found here.
