Randy Mills

Randy Mills, a 15-year-old boy remembered by his mother as a "special boy" who was loved by many, was a ninth-grade student at Roxborough High School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His family affectionately called him "Peanut." His aunt recalled him as a little boy just beginning the transition into young adulthood. A neighbor described the Black / African American teen as a "good little kid" and a "respectful little boy."

On the evening of Wednesday, May 24, 2023, Randy was riding a SEPTA Route 23 bus home. Around 10:50 p.m., as the bus traveled along the 5200 block of Germantown Avenue, a male passenger wearing a mask, a hooded sweatshirt, and a jacket boarded and sat across from Randy. According to investigators who reviewed surveillance footage, the man immediately engaged Randy in a verbal argument. The dispute escalated, and the man pulled out a handgun, shooting Randy once in the chest. The gunman then fled the bus on foot, last seen heading south on Germantown Avenue.

There were eight other passengers on the bus at the time of the shooting. The 52-year-old female bus driver ducked when she heard the gunfire and opened the doors, allowing the shooter to escape. A bullet narrowly missed her. Responding Philadelphia Police officers found Randy unresponsive in the aisle and rushed him to Albert Einstein Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival. His mother, Kesha Langford, later watched the surveillance footage and said she saw her son's hand move as the shooter left, believing he did not die instantly.

In the days following the homicide, the Philadelphia Police Department released surveillance video of the suspect and a second person of interest, who was seen on video appearing to go through Randy's belongings before exiting the bus. The city offered a $20,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction in the case. Randy's death was the 23rd homicide of a Philadelphia-area student in 2023. The Philadelphia School District issued a statement expressing its sympathies and made grief counselors available to students and staff at Roxborough High School, a community that was still mourning the shooting death of another student, Nicholas Elizalde, the previous fall.

Family and friends gathered to lay Randy to rest on Saturday, May 27, 2023, with services at Khadijah Alderman Funeral Service Inc. and burial at Chelten Hill Cemetery. His mother made a public plea to the killer: "Turn yourself in, turn yourself in because you will be found."

In July 2024, authorities publicly identified Haneef Ali as the suspect wanted for Randy Mills' murder and added him to Philadelphia's most-wanted list. For nearly a year, Ali remained a fugitive. Randy's aunt, identified only as Tia, spoke out during the manhunt, stating, "That was my baby... Randy had just turned 15, Randy was a little boy... that was just too much, it was uncalled for, somethings gotta’ be done."

According to Pennsylvania court records, Haneef Ali was arrested on April 24, 2026. He has been charged in connection with the homicide of Randy Mills. As of April 2026, his case is making its way through the court system.