Shaheed Saoud, 16, was fatally shot on January 19, 2023, while sitting in the backseat of a car in Northeast Philadelphia, not far from his childhood home. A senior at Al-Aqsa Islamic Academy, he stood 6 feet 2 inches, excelled at math, and hoped to play college basketball; he corresponded with college coaches about his prospects.

Initially two people were charged in his murder, but prosecutors later dropped those charges after video surfaced that reportedly showed Shaheed firing a gun first. The exact circumstances that led to the shooting and why Shaheed may have discharged a firearm remain unclear. His death deeply affected his family; his parents separated months afterward and his mother suffered serious health problems attributed to grief.

Shaheed is remembered as loving, funny, and lighthearted, and his Janazah prayer service drew a large turnout. If anyone has information about the events that night, please come forward to help clarify what happened.