On Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2022, 14-year-old Nicholas Elizalde was fatally shot outside Roxborough High School on the 4700 block of Pechin Street in Philadelphia, PA. The incident took place shortly after a junior varsity football scrimmage between Roxborough High School, North East High School, and Boys Latin Charter School. Although Elizade lived in Havertown, PA, and was a freshman at Walter B. Saul High School, he played football for Roxborough since his school did not have an athletics program.
According to police, five suspects waited inside a parked, light-colored Ford Explorer for six minutes before quickly exiting and firing over 60 shots into a crowd of football players, and then fleeing the scene in the stolen SUV. Based on reports, the target of the ambush was a 17-year-old boy attending the game. Elizalde, who was apparently not a target, was shot in the chest and died within minutes in his mother’s arms. Four other teens were also wounded in the shooting.
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The day prior, on Monday, Sept. 26, 19-year-old Tahmir Jones was killed while sitting on the steps outside his North Philadelphia home just before 2pm on the 600 block of N. 13th Street. Three gunmen fired over 25 shots, striking Jones at least 20 times, and sending bullets into the family’s home. According to police, the motive remains unclear but may have been due to mistaken identity.
A total of five suspects were charged with involvement in the killings of Nicholas Elizade and Tahmir Jones, including Zyheid Jones, Troy Fletcher, Dayron Burney-Thorn, Saleem Miller, and Yaaseen Bivins. Both Zyheid Jones and Troy Fletcher have already pleaded guilty and received sentencing (details below), while the other three are scheduled for trial next October.
Zyheid Jones had reportedly admitted that he was one of several suspected gunmen in the incident outside Roxborough High School and that he had fired one of the weapons used in the attack. He was also charged for the murder of Thamir Jones the day before. In early 2024, he pleaded guilty to third-degree murder, two counts of conspiracy, four counts of attempted murder, and gun-related crimes. On Dec. 19, 2024, Common Pleas Court Judge Barbara McDermott sentenced Jones to 30 to 60 years for murder and gun-related offenses.
Troy Fletcher was also charged with involvement in the killings of both Thamir Jones and Nicholas Elizalde. Last December, he pleaded guilty to two counts of third-degree murder, two counts of conspiracy, four counts of attempted murder, and related firearm offenses. On Feb. 13, Judge Barbara McDermott sentenced Fletcher to 25 to 50 years in prison. The judge said that if Fletcher were an adult at the time of the incident, he would have received a longer sentence of 40 to 80 years.
During testimony, his defense attorney Marni Jo Snyder shed light on his difficult childhood. She described him growing up in a difficult part of North Philadelphia. And, although his father was an active figure in his life, he was incarcerated for eight years of his childhood.
In addition, Snyder highlighted Fletcher’s mental health challenges from an early age, which led to self-harm at 9-years-old. Despite receiving psychiatric treatment at 12, the pandemic brought an end to the program. During the shutdown, she said his parents had challenges finding behavioral support for their son. He stayed at a program in Florida for several months before returning home in 2022 since he did not qualify for mandatory inpatient treatment.
Kempis Songster, who does restorative justice work with the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office, also provided testimony. Similar to Fletcher, he shot and killed someone at the age of 15 and explained how, if the U.S. Supreme Court had not decided to overturn mandatory juvenile life sentences, he would still be in prison. He is now a father, husband, and strives to bring healing to families impacted by crime — something he sees Fletcher doing in the future.
Songster spoke highly of Fletcher, saying “I believe he, if given the chance…will become an agent for change to other young people on the verge of committing violence.”
When it was Fletcher’s turn to speak, he apologized to his victims’ families and said he had spent every day since the incident thinking about what he had done, and the “kind of man I want to become.”
“This is not just about freedom,” he said. This is about taking responsibility for my actions…I am ready to be better.”
According to Judge Barbara McDermott, the reduced sentencing (i.e., 25 to 50 years instead of 40 to 80 years) was largely due to the day’s impactful testimony, especially Songster’s, and Fletcher’s age at the time of the incident.
The judge said, “You have been given, in this court’s mind, a gift.”
If you are accused of a crime in Philadelphia, schedule a free consultation with the Law Offices of M.J. Snyder today; one of our skilled defense attorneys will closely review your case, provide legal guidance, and help you achieve a favorable outcome.
Read more in the Feb. 13, 2025 publication of the Philadelphia Inquirer: ‘I’m ready to be better’: Teen who killed two asks for forgiveness from victims’ families at sentencing
