Gun Violence 258
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 […]
DeAndre Bing, 17, college-bound senior who took a selfie with his mom every morning
Tiffany Williams didn’t think she would be a mother. When she was about 17, she became pregnant but lost the baby. After that, she was told she wouldn’t be able to sustain a healthy pregnancy in the future, but about eight years later, she found out that wasn’t true. DeAndre, her only child, was born […]
Carl J. Burgess, 35, ‘character’ who loved Disney
“Disney, Disney, Disney,” was always on the mind of Carl J. Burgess. A trip to the theme park is a dream come true for many people — and even at 35 years old, Carl was no exception. “He loved Goofy. He had a Goofy hat,” Carl’s mother, Valerie Burgess, remembered. “He loved all of the […]
Linden “Shorn” Henry, 34, a Jamaican-born car fanatic and proud father
Shaquanda Taylor was standing outside with her girlfriends in West Oak Lane when she caught the eye of Linden Henry. “He was driving past and spotted me, and we just started talking,” she said. Eventually they had a son together, Jaylyn, in 2006 when Shaquanda was 17 and Linden, who went by the nickname “Shorn,” […]
Paris Wright, 21, never got to meet his daughter
Paris Wright was looking forward to being a father, but it would never come to be. On Jan. 29, 2014, at five months pregnant, his girlfriend’s water broke and she lost their baby, whom they planned to name Paris. “Even though he was young, I was excited because he was excited,” his mother, Crystal Wright, […]
Shelton Hayes, 39, a marketing pro who was working on a men’s clothing line
Shelton T. Hayes “came into the world driven,” his mother Rhonda Gore said. He was a marketing professional who also spent time working in the entertainment industry. And, at the time of his death, on March 15, 2018 — three days after turning 39 — he was in the process of getting his men’s clothing […]
Bakeer “Bok” Green, 34, a beloved West Philly basketball coach
Kids, basketball and his West Philadelphia community all played major roles in the life of Bakeer “Bok” Green. Born Jan. 23, 1984 in Philadelphia, Bakeer grew up in West Philly. A turning point in his life came in ninth grade, when he was sent to Glen Mills, a residential school for at-risk boys in Delaware […]
Dominique Oglesby, 23, a Penn State senior who loved to sing
At birth, Dominique Kimani Oglesby was diagnosed with a condition called laryngomalacia, which is a narrowing of the air passage that causes a “floppy voice box,” her mother Danielle Shaw-Oglesby explained. “They said she was not really going to talk louder than a whisper,” she said. Dominique underwent surgeries at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and […]
Juanyea Kennedy, 21, whose smile could light up a room
Maria Terry remembers Juanyea Kennedy well, even though they only went to school together until fourth grade. “He was really a nice person. He had a nice personality and a really bright smile that would just light up the room,” Terry, 22, recalled. Though Juanyea went to a different school after the two attended elementary […]
Tyrese Johnson, 17, ‘a Shark for life’
A gown and tassel were awaiting Tyrese Johnson in a few short months. He was counting down the final months of his senior year of high school, with his graduation seeming like the only thing in his way. After that momentous day, he would head to college with a full-ride scholarship. What would have been […]
Tymir Spruel, 17, a standout basketball player with pro dreams
When Tymir Spruel was 10 years old, his father, Gregory Spruel, took him to audition for the renowned Philadelphia Boys Choir. “Tymir could sing, we heard it in him when he was little,” Gregory recalled. “He sounded a little like Michael Jackson.” The audition went well, but Tymir didn’t make the cut. Still, the choir […]
Aasir Davis, 20, a playful soul with 4 jobs, if you count “watching” dishes
Aasir Mikell Davis had three part-time jobs: Forever 21, BJ’s Wholesale and an Amazon warehouse. His mother, Rovella Davis, worked for the state and encouraged him to apply for a full-time clerical position, which offered good benefits more stability. The plan was for him to go into work with his mom, fill out an application, […]
Brian Webb, 54, Air Force veteran and new college graduate
Although he was 54, in a way, Brian Webb’s life was just beginning in the spring of 2018. He had just earned his bachelor’s degree in health administration from Peirce College and was getting ready for one of the proudest moments of his life: walking across the stage at graduation to accept his diploma. He […]
Troy Parker, 40, ‘security blanket’ to twin sister
Twins are always said to have a connection closer than anyone. For Tramel Parker, the loss of her twin brother, Troy, was devastating. While he may be gone, she continues to bring him with her wherever she goes, with his likeness printed on a tote bag. “It’s like my security blanket,” Tramel said through tears. […]
Destiny Gonsalves-Charles, 19, was happy to finally be with her childhood crush
When Destiny Gonsalves-Charles was a child, she had a crush on a boy six years her senior named Damier. She was friends with his little cousins, and every time she saw him, she’d wait for him to glance her way, then she’d give him a look and a smile. “I took notice and I thought, […]
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