A summer evening of play in West Philadelphia ended in tragedy for 7-year-old Zamar Jones. On Saturday, August 1, 2020, Zamar was on the porch of his family’s home on the 200 block of North Simpson Street, playing with a toy race car and a scooter, when a gun battle broke out between three men. He was struck in the head and taken to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, where he died of his injuries two days later.

Police say the episode began when Christopher Linder, then 27, drove onto the block and opened fire at a group. Two other men, Michael Banks, 30, and Damar Jones, 27, returned fire. Linder reportedly crashed his truck, stole another vehicle to flee, and was later apprehended after returning to the scene for his truck. Within days all three men were in custody and faced charges including murder, attempted murder, and related offenses; a $20,000 reward had been offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Banks and Damar Jones.

Several plea deals and sentences followed in the prosecutions of the three men. Does anyone in the neighborhood recall seeing activity on North Simpson Street that night or have information that could clarify how the exchange began?