Gabrielle Phillips was an 8-year-old girl from Camden, New Jersey, described by family and neighbors as bright, outgoing and kind. On the evening of August 24, 2016, while riding her bicycle on the 900 block of South 8th Street near Spruce, several men converged on the street in what investigators later called a gang-related ambush aimed at a rival. Gunfire erupted and a single bullet struck Gabrielle in the head as she tried to reach safety; she was taken to Cooper University Hospital in critical condition and died nearly forty-eight hours later from that wound.

Detectives said multiple gunmen were involved and later focused on 18-year-old Tyhan Brown of Camden, alleging he opened fire while seeking a rival, Amir Dixon. Brown was arrested on a fugitive murder warrant in Tennessee on September 23, 2016, returned to New Jersey, and arraigned on murder and related charges; others faced hindering or witness-tampering counts.

Gabrielle’s death devastated neighbors who held a candlelight vigil at the corner where she fell. If anyone knew Gabrielle, saw the shooting, or has information that could help, please come forward to the authorities.