Brent Swearingen spent the last full day of his life with his 6-year-old daughter, Bailey. They went to the park and got ice cream, and he gave her a piggyback ride. She had missed her father carrying her on his shoulders and back — Brent had been locked up for a year.
He was released Feb. 12, 2020 and was in the process of re-establishing himself. He planned to return to his former job at Sweetgreen and he was also going to work for his friend who had a carpet cleaning business.
Joining a gym and keeping up with his workouts was on his list, too. Brent, whose nickname was “Bear,” had been husky before, but he came home with even bigger muscles and couldn’t even fit into his old clothes.
Most of all, Brent was looking forward to making up for lost time, being with his daughter and his 14-year-old son Nasir as much as possible, and getting together with his extended family, but those plans were cut short.
On Feb. 24, 2020, just 12 days after his release, Brent was shot and killed at 52nd and Sansom in West Philadelphia. A 31-year-old man, the alleged target, was injured. So far, police have arrested two people in connection with Brent’s murder, and a third suspect is still being sought.
“My niece cries and says, ‘I miss Daddy. Why did they shoot my Daddy?’” said Brent’s sister, Tajia Swearingen. “I feel so bad for her because there’s nothing I can do to take the pain away. Nothing I can do.”
Brent was born April 25, 1980 to his mother, Valerie Swearingen and his father, John Roberts, who preceded him in death. He graduated from University City High School in 1999.
Brent enjoyed sports — football, basketball, baseball and hockey — as well as playing video games and listening to rap music. He had culinary training and worked in restaurants, and at home he liked cooking breakfast most of all.
Tajia is two years younger, and they shared a tight bond.
“We had a crazy relationship — we always used to parent each other and be a mom and dad to each other, and he was extra bossy,” Tajia said with a chuckle. “He was always a character. He was very funny, he used to love to make jokes.”
Brent with his son Nasir and mother Valerie
To people who didn’t know him well, though, Brent was quiet, and he opened up more as he got to know you.
Tajia sees the same qualities in Nasir — he’s reserved, too, and he enjoyed spending time with his dad more than anyone else. They’d go to the arcade, to the movies, and to amusement parks, but they were also content doing something simple like grabbing pizza and just talking.
“That’s what my nephew was looking forward to, having his dad back 24/7, being able to do things with him and talk to him and spend time with him,” Tajia said. “After my brother got locked up, he would call my nephew and be like, ‘I’m gonna make it up to you when I get out,’ but he only got to spend one weekend with my brother before he got killed.”
Summer was Brent’s favorite time of year, and if he was still alive, Tajia knows he would have been around 49th and Catherine hanging out and joking with his friends at his go-to bar, The Barn, or getting slices at Penn Pizza. She cries whenever she passes through the area.
While he was locked up, he often told his family he didn’t want to be incarcerated at 40 years old. It was his first and last time in jail, and he told his mother he was ready to do everything right, and promised never to return.
Brent’s family celebrating his life in February
On what would have been his 40th birthday, April 25, his family had a small memorial and balloon release.
“I just miss my brother,” Tajia said. “Me and my mom miss him a lot. It’s just really hard.”
Date: 2020-02-24
Location: 100 S 52nd St, Philadelphia, PA
