Homicide Charges Filed In Philly Mass Shooting

PHILADELPHIA — One of the nine people shot early Sunday morning at a West Philadelphia party has been identified as one of the gunmen and was charged with three counts of homicide, police said.

Tahir Shoatz, 28, is charged with three counts of homicide, five counts of aggravated assault, and related crimes, police said Tuesday. Shoatz was shot once in the right shoulder, once in the left shoulder, once in the right knee, and once in the abdomen. He is in stable condition.

Police also identified the three people killed.

They are Akil Jones, 33, Sakayi Robinson, 23, and Rashie Jones, 29. At a news conference Monday, police said two of the decedents were brothers, likely Rashie Jones and Akil Jones.

These three and six others were shot when an argument started at the party, which was being held on the 1200 block of North Alden Street in the city's Carroll Park neighborhood.

The argument escalated into a fight, then a shootout, police said Monday.

Multiple calibers of spent bullet casings were found at the scene, police said.

The other victims are:

• 28-year-old Black male, shot once in the left foot, was taken to Presbyterian by private vehicle and is in stable condition.
• 28-year-old Black male, shot once in the right thigh, was taken to Presbyterian by private vehicle and is in stable condition.
• 26-year-old Black female, shot once in the right buttock, was taken to Presbyterian by PPD RPC and is in stable condition.
• 27-year-old Black male, shot once in the left leg and sustained a graze wound to the head, was taken to Presbyterian by PPD RPC and is in stable condition.
• 28-year-old Black male, shot once in the right shoulder, once in the left shoulder, once in the right knee, and once in the abdomen, was taken to Lankenau Hospital by private vehicle and is in stable condition.
• 30-year-old Black male, shot twice in the left thigh, was taken to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania by private vehicle and is in stable condition.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the Philadelphia Police Department's anonymous tip line via call or text at 215-686-8477).