What to Know
- A 14-year-old Philadelphia boy waiting for a bus was shot 18 times and killed Monday afternoon, police said.
- A Philadelphia police spokesperson said in an emailed incident report that Samir Jefferson was waiting at a bus stop shortly before 3:30 p.m. Monday in the Feltonville neighborhood when multiple unknown shooters fired at least 36 shots.
- Police said Samir was shot 18 times throughout his body. He died at a hospital a short time later.
Multiple gunmen chased a 14-year-old boy, fired 36 shots at him -- striking him at least 18 times -- and left him for dead in Philadelphia on Monday afternoon.
Witnesses told Philadelphia police the teen -- identified Tuesday morning as Samir Jefferson -- was standing on the corner of Rising Sun and Wyoming avenues in the Feltonville neighborhood around 3:30 p.m. waiting for a bus when multiple gunmen exited a vehicle, approached him and opened fire.
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 where Samir was pronounced dead just after 4 p.m.
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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.
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Two men considered persons of interest were taken into police custody. They remained in custody Tuesday, but had not been charged. A woman who witnessed the shooting was also taken into custody for questioning.
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.
As of Tuesday morning, no arrests were made.
Police said they found numerous surveillance cameras in the area and hoped that would help with the investigation. 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.
