Homicides 2020 399
Aidan Seddon, 18: ‘The things he wanted to do, he was doing them’
Aidan Seddon didn’t care much for school, but that changed in his senior year. After struggling with online classes at first, Aidan found his groove, worked hard and graduated with honors from Roman Catholic High School in 2020. Like many members of his class, Aidan was disappointed by the anticlimactic ending. “He felt like he […]
Jaleel Huggins-Cotton, 21, aspired to be the father he never had
In the summer of 2019, Jaleel Huggins-Cotton laid eyes on his father for the first time since he was six months old. It was Jaleel’s mother’s birthday and, on a whim, Takeya Huggins Cotton Tilghman took her son to the old neighborhood in West Philadelphia to see if the absent side of his family might […]
Diyaan Smith, 16, a gamer known for giving money to the homeless
After having four daughters, Katrina Burrell was overjoyed when she learned in 2004 that her fifth child would be a son. He was born Memorial Day weekend, and she named him Diyaan. He was a quiet, laid-back kid who laughed a lot. He attended William Rowen School followed by the Academy for the Middle Years […]
Dyewou Scruggs, 20, Social Media Comedian Who Always Made His Presence Known
Chasing laughs during the COVID-19 lockdown, Dyewou Scruggs took life’s ordinary moments and twisted them beyond social conventions. An admirer of comedians Mike Epps, Eddie Murphy and Bernie Mac, Dyewou would cast family members, friends and neighbors in his Instagram skits @wooxbiddy, crafting punchlines, analyzing camera angles and editing wacky footage to entertain his nearly […]
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, […]
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