Homicides 2018 309
Symir Walker, 16, dreamed of playing basketball for the Temple Owls
Symir Rasheed Walker’s life was short, but the impact he made on others was huge. His mother, Allissa Jackson, attended a support group luncheon in which a psychologist was a guest speaker. He talked about a young man whose murder promoted numerous people to see him to process their grief. “I came to find out […]
Kelvin Ray, 35, family man and firefighter
After nine years as a firefighter and medic with the Philadelphia Fire Department, Kelvin Ray was ready to make a change. “He wanted his own business,” said Taylor Kelly, his girlfriend of four years. “That was his goal. That was his dream. He didn’t want to work for anyone.” Kelvin had enrolled in a building […]
Nasir Debnam, 21: ‘My son wanted to change,’ mom says
Nasir Debnam was an outgoing guy who loved to dance and joke around. He enjoyed playing basketball and riding dirt bikes, but but most of all, he loved his friends. If Nasir loved you, his mother Schwana Debnam said, it means he saw something special in you. So when he lost two close friends to […]
Ryan Dillon, 17, a Mummer who dreamed of being a comedic chef
The above image, Rydill, was created by artist Elena Cipolia as part of the 2021-2022 Souls Shot Portrait Project exhibition. ______________________________________________________________________________ From the time Ryan Dillon could walk, he was a comedian. He would do anything, including physical comedy stunts, to make people laugh. He also “ate like it was his job,” his mother […]
Raheem Brown, 28, a loving father of five with 10 siblings of his own
Raheem Brown had a lot of love in his life. He was the father of five children and he doted on them. He was also engaged to a woman he had been with for nine years, and he was one of 11 siblings in a tight-knit family. He’ll never be able to finally get married […]
Tyree Bates, 14, was all about basketball
Tyree Bates had a lot to look forward to: Turning 15, getting more playing time on his high school basketball team, starting 10th grade. But instead of cheering him on as he dunks a basketball, his family and friends are maintaining a memorial for him at 4th and Susquehanna in Kensington, the spot where he […]
Esa Abdullah, 26
If you have any information about this victim, please contact us at [email protected] philly.com Date: 2018-12-30 Location: 150 Widener St, Philadelphia, PA
Robert Hicks, 40
If you have any information about this victim, please contact us at [email protected] philly.com Northeast Times Date: 2018-12-29 Location: 2100 Lardner St, Philadelphia, PA
Duane Hicks, 25
If you have any information about this victim, please contact us at [email protected] philly.com Northeast Times Date: 2018-12-29 Location: 2000 Wilmont, Philadelphia, PA
Wendell Buchanan, 28
If you have any information about this victim, please contact us at [email protected] Date: 2018-12-28 Location: 2200 N Gratz, Philadelphia, PA
Darnell Wheeler, 22
If you have any information about this victim, please contact us at [email protected] Date: 2018-12-28 Location: 2200 N Gratz, Philadelphia, PA
Kevin Harris, 27
If you have any information about this victim, please contact us at [email protected] Date: 2018-12-22 Location: 6100 Market St, Philadelphia, PA
Curtis Gravelsande, 31
If you have any information about this victim, please contact us at [email protected] Date: 2018-12-22 Location: 3200 N 2nd St, Philadelphia, PA
Hiam Velazquez, 40
If you have any information about this victim, please contact us at [email protected] Date: 2018-12-22 Location: 1300 W Pike St, Philadelphia, PA
Bernell Gibson, 29
If you have any information about this victim, please contact us at [email protected] Date: 2018-12-22 Location: 2100 Middleton St, Philadelphia, PA
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Every month, we create a placeholder webpage for each person murdered in Philadelphia. Our hope is to elevate these pages into fully written stories with photos that show who each victim was as a person. Through storytelling, we're shining a light on the human toll of gun violence in Philadelphia.