Suspect In Roxborough Teen's Easter Slaying Arrested

ROXBOROUGH, PHILADELPHIA – An 18-year-old South Philadelphia man has reportedly been arrested in connection with the Easter Sunday killing of a Roxborough 16 year old.

Philadelphia Police said they have arrested Zahmir White, 18, whose last known address was on the 900 block of South 5th Street, the morning of Wednesday, May 23 in connection with the Easter Sunday shooting death of 16-year-old William Bethel IV, of Roxborough.

White is charged with murder, firearms possession, and possession of an instrument of crime, police said.

Police said White has had run ins with police but said his criminal background is "not extensive" and issued an alert that he was sought in connection with the killing in April 11.

Bethel was shot in the left pelvis at about 5:54 p.m., Sunday, April 1 on the 800 block of South Street, police said.

Three others were shot in that incident and suffered non-fatal injuries, police said.

He was taken to Thomas Jefferson Hospital where he was admitted in critical but stable condition, police said.

Subsequently, Bethel's condition worsened and he died at 11:40 p.m. on Tuesday, April 3.

Authorities said the shooting was the result of a dispute between two groups of people over a woman and that Bethel was the target of the shooting.

Police called the killing a "senseless tragedy."

Bethel was a sophomore at the Boys' Latin of Philadelphia High School. In a tribute to Bethel on the school's website, he is remembered as a being "full of kindness" with a "magnetic spirit."

Image via Philadelphia Police