Quenzel Bradley-Brown loved to be in front of a crowd. He was a master of Spoken Word poetry, captivating his audience as he recited original work from heart. Sometimes he highlighted what was going on in the world at the time and others he delicately sent words of motivation to those who came to support him.
And then other times, Boona, as he was known as a kid, might make you laugh, or maybe groan, at one of his corny jokes. “Boona always had a big personality and set his mind on becoming a comedian, but no one found him funny even though we would laugh at his jokes,” said Taneesha Brodie, his mother.
Bonna was very smart, kind, goofy, into video games and took a liking to all of Disney’s movies to the point he knew the words and songs. One would often hear him singing the songs and reciting the lines to them. By the time Bonna was 5, he could read the newspaper independently with a clear understanding of what he was reading.
“No words could ever describe the pain I feel right now or the void the family feels as we miss my oldest son Bonna,” said Taneesha.
Quenzel was shot dead in Overbrook on Sept. 8, 2022 on the 6200 hundred block of Lebanon Avenue. He was 28.
As he was growing up in North Philadelphia, Tanesha decided to pack up her family and move them to Upper Darby. But he returned back to Philadelphia to be closer to his places of employment.
“He was not just a person but the main provider to his four children whom are now fatherless, Mackenzie (9), Harley (8), Greyson (3) and Kaizer (1) and my everything,” said Taneeshna. “Bonna was a great father to his children and provided for them each day. He worked two jobs to ensure they had everything they needed and wanted.”
After he realized he wasn’t funny he began to set his heart on becoming a rapper, performing under the name Q or IQ (Infinite Quality).
“I was very proud of my son because I was a young single mother raising my son just trying to figure things out when I had him. We grew up together and quickly our roles revised.”
Briandria, his 26-year-old sister, said she and her brother were inseparable. “We talked about any and everything. He thought he was my dad at times and now I wish I could just have him back; I miss him so much.”
He was close with his whole family. Ta’klya, 17, said she called Quenzel all the time just to check in and to see what he was up too. And his presence in her life motivated to do better—and still does a year after his death. “I was an honor student but when this happened I could not concentrate so my grades begin to slip,” she said. “I’m trying my hardest to get it right because I know he would be mad with me.”
And his death has left a hole in the hearts of everyone.“I’ll never talk to him again,” said Ka’Shaad 12-year-old brother. “I’ll never hear him say my name again. We would play basketball every Sunday at the playground. So many people loved him including me.”
“When Beyoncé came out Bonna was her biggest fan and had the biggest crush on her. I would write letters to him pretending to be Beyoncé and he would buy it. This lasted until he found out she married Jay-Z and his heart was crushed.”
When Bonna was 18 years old he decided to enroll into The National Guard for four years of his life he wanted a better life for himself and his family. He didn’t reenlist but correlated the training he learned with his life.
“One day while shopping Walmart Bonna took his phone out and began videotaping himself dancing in the aisle as they shopped, he would do goofy things like this all of the time,” Taneesha recalled as she laughed.
“I miss the phone calls we shared together, his calming voice whenever I was having a bad day soothed me. One of his favorite lines was to “release yourself, it’s going to be alright.”
If you have any tips that can solve this Unsolved Homicide, please contact The Philadelphia Homicide Unit at 215-686-TIPS with any information. The City of Philadelphia is offering an award of $20,000.
