Homicides 2020 399
Allen Taylor, 34: ‘I wanted to see him happy’
When Allen Taylor was a child, he received a toy car for Christmas called Tantrum. “The wheels would spin around like crazy like the car was having a tantrum,” Allen’s older sister Shameka Sawyer said with a laugh. “Tantrum” became Allen’s nickname, and when he started rapping, he shortened it to “Tanch.” Shameka is a […]
‘Preacher John’ Rawls, 59, Ladies Man Who Uplifted Those in Need
In church, they called him “Preacher John.” John Rawls, who became a born-again Christian later in life, extolled the merits of saving yourself and changing your life before the coming apocalypse. He also penned poems about saving the Earth and odes to his many girlfriends, whom he showered with gifts. “Womanizing — that was his […]
Shahjahan S. McCaskill, 26, an achiever who overcame cancer
The above image, Shahjahan S. McCaskill, was created by artist Stephanie Smith as part of the 2021-2022 Souls Shot Portrait Project exhibition. ______________________________________________________________________________ Shahjahan Shaquar Ali Vaughn McCaskill was born Dec. 26, 1993 and raised by his mother, Najila Zainab McCaskill Ali, in West Philadelphia. When he was three years old, he met Jarell Jackson at […]
Elijah Dobbs-Harvey, 18, Devoted “Uncle Juicy” Who Stood Up to Bullies
By the time he was three days old, Elijah Dobbs-Harvey had already cheated death. Born with neuroblastoma, a very rare cancer that forms in certain types of nerve tissue, Elijah survived a grueling surgery only to be later diagnosed with epilepsy and a severe speech impediment. “He didn’t like it but it was part of […]
Ahmad Morales, 24, a barber who wanted to open his own shop
The above image, Ahmad, Resting In Light, was created by artist Emily Parker as part of the 2021-2022 Souls Shot Portrait Project exhibition. _____________________________________________________________________________ When Ahmad Morales was 14, his mother Tamika taught him how to cut hair. A longtime hairdresser and salon owner, she wanted him to have a skill that he could use […]
Tahj Williams, 17, tireless team player, member of JROTC
As a wrestler, Tahj Williams was tinier than all of his competitors in the lowest weight class. Teachers often mistook him for someone’s younger brother, even though he could quiet down a chaotic classroom and hold his own among a group of coaches bantering in their office. Tahj wasn’t naturally gifted at sports but he […]
Andre Blackshear, 56, peacemaker who extolled education, not guns
The above image, Andre, was created by artist Terry Freemark as part of the 2021-2022 Souls Shot Portrait Project exhibition. ______________________________________________________________________________ Amanda Mills was no more than 13 years old when she and her brother stood terrified outside their twin home in the Logan section of Philadelphia, watching a neighbor beat up his girlfriend. Soon […]
Albert Lee Jr., 27, Kutztown grad who ‘was very intelligent, and he had a plan’
Albert Thomas Lee Jr. was not a fan of vegetables, particularly corn. A friend even offered him $100 to eat an ear of corn, but he couldn’t do it. “He didn’t like how it tasted in his mouth, he didn’t like the kernels, so it was a task trying to get him to eat corn […]
Marcus Alexander, 26, opened his home to those in need
Marcus Alexander’s friends always knew they had a place to crash if they were hungry, arguing with their parents, or needed a respite from the streets. Growing up in Southwest Philadelphia, Marcus would invite at least 10 kids to dinner and the occasional stray dog, his mother, Theresa Guyton, remembered. He persuaded a friend to […]
Desiree Shaffer, 37, an outgoing mom and ‘the cool aunt’ who loved to dance
Desiree Shaffer was the cool aunt to her niece Justine Greenwood. As a young teenager, Justine would sometimes skip school to spend the day with her Aunt Desi, blasting Beyonce, watching The Ellen DeGeneres show and hanging out. Desiree, who had memorable bright blue eyes, was the younger sister of Justine’s mother, Misty. At 14 […]
Wahseem Mason, 15, athletic teen who cared for his community
Besides loving sports data, Wahseem Mason was a gamer, and his mother, Nadira Madison, remembers it almost cost her $600 to find out. Wahseem was in fifth grade, spending another afternoon playing video games and enjoying the experience, but he needed extra money to purchase more levels. The system was already set up in Nadira’s name, […]
Anthony Dixon, 29, born salesman who loved anything with wheels
Anthony Teron Dixon’s father taught his son how to drive on the dirt back roads of Georgia. The boy was no more than 8, yet he maneuvered the machine like a champ. “He would get behind your car in a minute and drive,” remembered his mother, Tonya Nesmith. “Anything that got wheels, he would ride.” […]
Juawann Mason, 27, former high school basketball star and Bloomsburg University grad
The above image, Coalesce, was created by artist Bryan Smith as part of the Souls Shot Portrait Project 2021-2022 exhibition. _____________________________________________________________________________ Juawann Mason always strived to do the right thing. While others got wrapped up in drama on the streets, Juawann chose college. And after he earned his bachelor’s degree from Bloomsburg University, he decided […]
Terrance Freeman, 29, protector of the family who dreamed of leaving Germantown
It is not often that an enduring love story is sparked by a blue mixed drink at a neighborhood bar. But Pauline Freeman was immediately impressed by her future husband, Terrance. Although he was 13 years her junior, he was family-oriented, attentive, and carried himself well. He also was a meticulous dresser, careful that his […]
Rasheed Marion, 43, cook who wanted his own food truck
Dawn Victoria Williams was at a bar with a friend in 2019 when Rasheed Marion caught her eye. “I was checking him out, but then I was like, ‘Nah, I’m not at a place where I want to be in a relationship,’” she said. Not long after that, they found themselves at the same bar […]
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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.