Homicides 2016 24
Kyle Manley, 34: ‘No, not Kyle! Why would that happen to him?’
Losing a loved one to gun violence is never easy, but people were particularly surprised when Kyle Manley was shot. “People were saying, ‘No, not Kyle! Why would that happen to him?’” said his only brother, Todd Manley, a patrol officer at the University of Pennsylvania. “He wasn’t into that type of lifestyle.” The fact […]
Antonio “Tony” Miller, 25: ‘My gentle giant’
Antonio “Tony” Miller was the ultimate prankster. One time, he convinced his young niece that he was talking to her through the TV, assuming the identity of SpongeBob SquarePants. Tony chatted with the stunned girl on the phone, describing exactly what she was wearing and watching. In reality, her father had fed Tony the information […]
Hugh Certaine, 27: ‘He would never hang up a call without saying I love you’
As soon as “That’s What I Like” played at a family event, you’d see Hugh Arthur Certaine Jr. look over towards his mom, Geraldine Nelson, motioning her to dance to their favorite song. Whether it was cracking jokes about being short, making silly faces or attempting to dance, all Hugh ever wanted to do was […]
Terrance Stewart, 35, shared a birthday with his youngest sister
On Terrance Stewart’s sixth birthday in 1987, his mother called him from the hospital where she had just given birth to her youngest daughter Shadeea. He asked what she had gotten him for his birthday, and she said, “a little sister.” His reply: “I don’t want that. I wanted a dog.” Although Terrance and Shadeea […]
Quantico Brunson, a smiling 17-year-old who aspired to build schools
When Quantico Mareno Brunson pictured his future, he saw himself playing football for the Temple Owls, becoming an engineer and building things. “He always said he wanted to build schools and houses,” his mother Shantice Wideman said. “He wanted to build a big old house with 15 rooms so all of my family can be […]
Christine Rambo, 40, a free spirit who adored children
Bubbly and free-spirited, Christine Ann Rambo had a special way with children. At family gatherings, she was the adult who would get down on the floor and roll around and play with the kids, and they loved her. “She was a very fun person,” her sister-in-law Gretchen Rambo said. “The kids were attracted to her. […]
Marcos Malave, 32: “He was a very helpful and kindhearted person”
The above image, Marcos Malave, was created by artist Guy Kiernan as part of the 2021-2022 Souls Shot Portrait Project exhibition. _____________________________________________________________________________ Nearly every morning, Marcos Malave would make the 10-minute walk to the house that his mother and sister shared in North Philadelphia so they could have breakfast together on the porch. “Coffee, toast […]
Shawn Bonaparte, 22: ‘We grew up together,’ mom says
When Shawn Bonaparte was a student at Tanner Duckrey School in North Philadelphia, a commissioner of the Philadelphia Police Department took him under his wing. Shawn was chosen for the program because when he was 4, and his father had been sentenced to life in prison. “That played a major role in Shawn’s life,” his […]
Troy Smith Jr., 23, aspiring corrections officer whose death started another family tradition
The above sculpture, Troy Smith Jr., was created by artist Laura Frazure as part of the 2021-2022 Souls Shot Portrait Project exhibition. _____________________________________________________________________________ Troy Smith Jr. was all about family. He had close relationships with his siblings and other relatives, and spending time with them was a top priority. “Anything that had to do with […]
Cameron Robertson, 26, serial entrepreneur and father
At a young age, Cameron Robertson decided he didn’t want to work for anyone. So, as a teenager, he became a serial entrepreneur, first selling T-shirts outside of concerts and sports venues. Over the next several years, his business ventures kept pace with his dreams. “He was very goal-driven,” said his sister, Kristen Robertson. “If […]
Anthony Molina, 25, a restaurant chef with an upbeat personality
Even though they were a year apart, Anthony Molina and his sister Shanna were often mistaken as twins when they were kids. “We were very, very close,” she said. “He was very protective of me.” Anthony, whom everyone called Tony, was born in Philadelphia on Aug. 6, 1990, and grew up in Kensington. He and […]
Jayvon Mitchell Pendleton, 20, student at Cheyney University with big dreams
As a mother, Felicia Pendleton didn’t have the smoothest path when it came to raising her first child, Jayvon Mitchell Pendleton. Born in Philadelphia on Feb. 17, 1996, Jayvon suffered from ADHD and bipolar disorder. “It really wasn’t easy as a single parent, but I never gave up on him,” Felicia said. She provided guidance […]
Raymond Pantoja, 26, a rapper who also loved ‘The Notebook’
When Raymond Pantoja was born, he saved his mother’s life. “I was five years lost in drugs,” Lisa Espinosa, Raymond’s mother, said. “Raymond was my lifesaver, because when he was born, he made me realize this was my last time, and I had to get my life together.” Raymond, better known as RJ, changed the […]
Markeish Amir Johnson, 18: ‘I can’t like everybody because everybody isn’t like me’
Markeish Amir Johnson wasn’t your average 18 year old. He loved his family, kept a small circle of friends and was respectful to everyone he crossed paths with. “I’d say, ‘You don’t have many friends,’ but he’d say, ‘I can’t like everybody because everybody isn’t like me,’” Markeish’s mother, Angela Parrish, recalled. Markeish was a […]
Richard Davila, 47, loved to collect sneakers
Shoeboxes filled with more than one hundred sneakers are stacked neatly in the Davilas’ Fairhill home. Richard Davila, a 47-year-old originally from Puerto Rico, collected sneakers for fun. He loved having the newest Jordans and always kept his collection in pristine condition. The sneakers have remained untouched since January 3, 2016, when Richard Davila was […]
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