Off the football field, Khyrie Isaac, could be silly and lighthearted once you got to know him, but put a helmet on him and he was a force to be reckoned with. His mother even called him a beast on the field.
“He loved the sport and lived and breathed it,” said his father, Schaine. “He was bad, meaning good, on the field and made sure he did his best so his team would win.”
He was only 7 years old when he started with the Northwest Raiders out of the Lionel Young Recreation Center in Germantown, and later he went on to become a talented wide receiver at Northwest High School. He was hoping this lifelong dedication and talent would propel him to play ball in college—and eventually to the NFL.
He never got the chance. He was shot inside a car on Aug. 21, 2021 outside a ShopRite on the 100 Block of East Olney Avenue. He was only 18.
Sometimes, he had a tendency to be rough on the outside, but Khy, as he was called, had a silly, loving side too. He was a cheerful, friendly guy who would joke around with his teammates, family and friends. Once you heard his infectious laugh, you would laugh along with him.
And he was especially kind to his longterm girlfriend, Ojanae Thompson, who he gave flowers before they went out on dates. She was also gravely injured in the shooting and died five days later.
“Khy had a lot of energy I guess that’s why he was a beast on the field,” his mother, Ivory, recalled. “He loved to dance and protected me from others all of the time. We could be walking down the street and some guy could be checking me out, out of nowhere I would here Khy say stop looking at my mom, she doesn’t want you, she is married.”
If he was sometimes a bit overprotective, at least he did it in style. He was always into the latest fashions, and he even was looking into starting his own clothing brand. That style also transferred onto the field. After he would score, he always did his famous celebration dance.
Father and son shared a tight bond, bonding over football and watching the games together. Of course, they really loved the Eagles.
Schaine remembers his son—the only child he and Ivory had—as his “everything.” “I love my son and it hurts so much that he isn’t here. He was my right hand man. We talked about everything and I gave him everything,” he said. “I pushed him to do his best and there were times when I said no but he would go to his mother and she said yes.”
“I taught him by leading by example. I work hard for my money and I taught him how to work for his money as well. He would work with me a lot of times at my business and go on calls to continue learning the trade of refrigeration, heating, and central air as well as began his own clothing brand.”
“I was in the stands cheering him on at every game,” Schaine replied. “This was my way of keeping him out of trouble or getting involved with the wrong crowd. I made sure he had everything he needed when it came to football.”
Police were still looking for three men in a white sedan with black rims on it. There have not been any arrests to date. If you have any information, please contact the Philadelphia Homicide Division at 215-686-TIPS. You can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a $20,000 award.
