Jayson Adams, 29, new father whose funeral was disrupted by a shooting

Jayson Adams was everyone’s favorite, and that was especially true when it came to his cousin, Chrissy Baldwin.

Jayson and Chrissy’s mothers are sisters, and they had a close bond. He’d do whatever was necessary to make her laugh.

“He was a laid-back type, and he was very funny,” Chrissy said. “He was definitely a people person.”

Jayson was born March 18, 1991 and grew up at 39th and Wallace in West Philadelphia. He attended YouthBuild Charter School and had worked in building maintenance for a number of years.

Jayson had lived in the Harrisburg area with his girlfriend and their 1-year-old daughter, but they split up in January and Jayson had reluctantly moved back to The Bottom. 

Family gatherings had been put on hold because of COVID, but Jayson and Chrissy tried to meet up a few times since he had returned to Philly. They couldn’t connect, though, and they thought they had more time. Chrissy never suspected that anything tragic would happen.

But on Feb. 28 of this year, Jayson lost his life to gun violence at 40th and Lancaster in West Philly. He was a few weeks from turning 30.

After his service at the Friends Southwest Burial Grounds in Upper Darby, the unthinkable happened: Two men started shooting, injuring two people and terrifying mourners. Numerous people, including elderly relatives and children, were still gathered around Jayson’s graveside at the time.

Chrissy and her son were in her car, which was parked in a line of other cars, when she saw a man with a silver and black gun.

“I said out loud, ‘Why he got a gun?’ And then after that, all of these shots started going off,” she said. “We were ducking down. I’m already crying about my cousin and then this happens. My son could have gotten killed.”

A chaotic scene followed, with cars fleeing and driving through the grass in a desperate attempt to get away. Police are investigating the shooting.

Jayson valued his family most in life, especially his daughter. He was thrilled when he became a father, and it’s heartbreaking that she has to grow up without him. Because of what happened at his funeral, his daughter’s mother doesn’t plan on bringing her back to the city.

“He didn’t deserve this,” Chrissy said. “Nobody deserved any of this.”

A reward of up to $20,000 if available to anyone that comes forward with information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for Jayson’s murder. Anonymous calls can be submitted by calling the Citizens Crime Commission at 215-546-TIPS.