What to Know
- Juan Carlos (JR) Robles-Corona Jr. was shot and killed near the Tanner Duckrey School in North Philadelphia Monday afternoon.
- The eighth grader's family said he had left school earlier and was likely heading back to pick up his brothers.
- Philadelphia police have yet to name any suspect's in the 15-year-old's killing.
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A teenage student whose family says loved living in Philadelphia was shot and killed after leaving his North Philadelphia school Monday afternoon.
The 15-year-old boy -- identified Tuesday by family as Juan Carlos Robles-Corona Jr. -- was walking about a block away from Tanner Duckrey School along the 2200 block of North 15th Street at 2:42 p.m. when a gunman fired at least 20 shots.
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"He didn't deserve that, it was an ambush," his mother, Maria Balbuena, told NBC10's Miguel Martinez-Valle.
Juan Carlos, or JR, as his family called him, was an eighth grade student at the school. He was shot at least three times in the left shoulder, once in the back and once in the torso, investigators said.
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A man, who did not want to be identified, told NBC10 he ran to his window moments after the shooting and saw the boy on the ground.
"I came down to help the cops scoop him in the car because I was the first one there," the man said. "I was consoling him. Telling him everything will be alright and hang in there."
JR was taken to Temple University Hospital where he was pronounced dead a short time later.
"This morning there was only silence in the house," Balbuena said of the emptiness her family is feeling.
JR's mother said he loved his siblings, working toward his future and Philadelphia.
"He was always saying that he was a Philly boy, that he didn't want to leave," Balbuena said. "Philadelphia didn't love him back."
Police believe JR was targeted by the gunman. A law enforcement source told NBC10 the teen may have been involved in an argument over the weekend though investigators are unsure if that was what led to the shooting.
JR's mother said he was supposed to be in school when he was shot, but had for some reason left early. He was likely heading back to go pick up his brothers, Balbuena said.
"He always took care of his brothers and me."
She said she only found out he was killed after she found no one picked up the brothers.
"My son was killed and he was left on the street like trash, he did not deserve this," Balbuena said.
The teen's backpack and a sneaker remained at the crime scene in the hours after the shooting.
"Children. You're talking about children," the man who came to J.R.'s aid said. "I'm so baffled right now because I've never seen anyone laying there lifeless."
No weapon was recovered and no arrests were made as of Tuesday morning.
A memorial to JR with candles, soccer cleats and some of his other favorite things was set up near where he was gunned down.
His family came to the city for work, his mother said. JR had dreams of making it on his own once day.
"It hurts me. It really hurts me," Michael Standard, a North Philly resident for 61 years, told NBC10. "I hope my brothers and sisters wake up because it's getting ridiculous."
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A spokesperson for the Philadelphia School District said extra counselors would be available at the Duckrey School starting Tuesday.
"We're dealing with it too much so now it's a matter of keeping the dialogue open between the city PPD and district and be there to support one another so we can support our students and staff and families," District spokesperson Monica Lewis said.
Shootings Rock Philadelphia
The incident was one of several shootings in Philadelphia on Monday afternoon and evening.
Shortly after 2 p.m., a gunman shot three men along the 2700 block of Kensington Avenue. All three victims are in stable condition and one man is in custody in connection to the shooting.
Around 5 p.m., a 25-year-old man was sot in the leg at a basketball court along the 2400 block of North Napa Street. That man was taken to the hospital in stable condition.
Shortly before 8:30 p.m., a 13-year-old boy was sitting inside a car on 49th and Hoopes streets when a gunman opened fire. The boy was shot once in the head and once in the arm. He was taken to Presbyterian Hospital in critical condition.
On Tuesday, Philadelphia public schools Superintendent Dr. William Hite called shootings targeting children as "senseless."
"As a parent, as a grandparent, as a superintendent, as an educator, these are things that impact not just the two victims or the perpetrators -- they impact families, they impact communities, they impact schools.
Around 8:45 p.m., a 24-year-old man was shot in the chest along the 4800 block of Frankford Avenue. He was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead at 9:07 p.m. An arrest was made in connection to the shooting.
Later, a man was shot in the buttocks along the 2500 block of South Felton Street. Officials did not immediately reveal his condition. And, a man was shot in the hand along the 4200 block of Girard Avenue, police said.
Entering Tuesday, there were 125 homicides in Philadelphia in 2022. That's up 2% from the same time last year, which was ultimately the city's deadliest on record.
Young people, like JR, have become victims. As of Sunday, April 3, children have made up at least 33 of the city's more than 500 shooting victims, according to data from the Philadelphia Controller's Office. At least eight of those children died.
There are additional resources for people or communities that have endured gun violence in Philadelphia. Further information can be found here.
