Philadelphia

Man convicted of shooting, killing Temple student Sam Collington in 2021

Latif Williams, 19, was found guilty in the murder of 21-year-old Samuel Collington in November 2021

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Latif Williams, 19, was found guilty of shooting and killing Temple University student Sam Collington back in November 2021.

A 19-year-old man was convicted of shooting and killing a 21-year-old Temple University student in 2021.

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On Tuesday, Latif Williams was found guilty of third-degree murder and gun charges in the death of Samuel Collington, Kristen Johanson of NBC10's newsgathering partner KYW Newsradio confirmed.

Williams' sentencing is scheduled for May 1, the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office confirmed with NBC10.

Collington, a Delaware County native, was shot in the chest outside his college apartment on the 2200 block of North Park Avenue in November 2021.

His mother, Molly Collington, said her son had just returned to North Philadelphia from his Delaware County home with clean laundry following Thanksgiving weekend.

She called her son's murder a "horrible injustice" and a "travesty like you have no idea" during an interview with NBC10. She also said she'll do anything to bring the person responsible to justice.

"This senseless act crushes us," Molly Collington said.

Police did not give a motive for the shooting, but the DA's office said that video evidence showed Collington was shot in what appeared to be a carjacking or robbery.

Collington appeared to fight back, the DA's office said, but that was after he was already shot.

NBC10 learned Williams was previously charged with carjacking a victim at gunpoint back in August 2021 though the victim was not harmed. A spokesperson for the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office told NBC10 they were forced to withdraw charges against Williams because a key witness never showed up to court.

Williams' sentencing is scheduled on the same date his carjacking trial begins.

Loved ones held a vigil for Samuel Collington, the Temple University student who was shot and killed near his off-campus apartment in Philadelphia. NBC10's Brian Sheehan has the story.

Collington was a senior political science student at Temple, the university said. He was set to graduate in the spring of 2022 from the College of Liberal Arts.

Samuel Collington
Samuel Collington

“We are encouraged by an arrest of a suspect in the death of Sam Collington," Temple said in a statement. "It is our hope that this is the start of healing for his family and the Temple community. Gun violence is an epidemic; it’s a complex, national issue plaguing both the country and Philadelphia. We must stay vigilant in working with our community partners on identifying solutions to this crisis."

Collington was also a fellow in the office of the City Commissioner. 

“Samuel was an incredibly talented and engaged young man,” City Commissioner Omar Sabir wrote. “During his brief time with our office, Samuel exemplified an incredible passion for engaging voters and was an indispensable member of our team. Sam’s death is a tremendous loss for the City Commissioners and all who knew him.”

There are additional resources for people or communities that have endured gun violence in Philadelphia. Further information can be found here.

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