On May 13, 2021, 16-year-old Quamir Mitchell, a Black male from Philadelphia, was shot and killed in Southwest Philadelphia. He was found lying in front of a residence on the 5600 block of Grays Avenue with a gunshot wound, taken to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and died that evening. A 13-year-old Black male was also shot in the incident and survived after being wounded in the arm.

The shooting occurred near Deritis Playground and may have begun there. The younger survivor provided a description of the shooter that led to the arrest of a suspect; the investigation remains ongoing and detectives are asking anyone with information to come forward. Quamir was a talented basketball player and a good student at West Philadelphia High School, due to graduate in a few weeks, and was remembered as a role model for younger teens.

The community responded with a Peace Not Guns public safety walk organized by Councilmember Kenyatta Johnson and the 12th police district captain. Anyone who knew Quamir or has information about the shooting is asked to contact investigators.