Philadelphia, PA – Following a tragic shooting at a crowded SEPTA subway platform that resulted in the death of a 16-year-old, the gunman almost managed to flee the scene, a prosecutor revealed in court on Wednesday. The suspect, identified as 18-year-old Quadir Humphrey, was initially stopped for questioning by transit police in the subway concourse after the January 11 shooting that claimed the life of Tyshaun Welles. However, thanks to surveillance footage, officers were able to quickly identify Humphrey as the perpetrator and take him back into custody.
According to the prosecutor, Humphrey fired a gun into a group of young people who had just left LevelUp, a local youth organization, resulting in Welles being struck in the head by a bullet. Welles fought for his life for several days before succumbing to his injuries on January 16th, when he was declared brain-dead by doctors and removed from life support.
During the court proceedings, multiple video clips were played showing the events of that fateful night in January. The footage depicted a group of over 20 teenagers conversing and waiting for a train on the platform before chaos erupted when a gun was fired, causing the crowd to disperse. Welles was shown lying motionless on the subway platform following the incident, prompting emotional reactions from his family and friends who were present in the courtroom.
SEPTA Police Sgt. Bryan Carney, who was monitoring the surveillance cameras, played a crucial role in identifying Humphrey as the shooter. By sharing an image of the suspect with his colleagues, Carney facilitated Humphrey’s swift apprehension after positively identifying him through a FaceTime call. Carney affirmed in court that there was no doubt regarding Humphrey’s culpability in firing the fatal shot.
Municipal Court Judge Patrick Dugan ordered Humphrey to stand trial on charges of homicide, aggravated assault, and other related offenses. While prosecutors dropped a conspiracy charge against another individual initially implicated in the case, Humphrey’s defense attorney argued that his client’s actions, while reckless, were not premeditated. However, the prosecutor contended that Humphrey’s actions demonstrated a blatant disregard for the safety and lives of others.
In a poignant plea for justice, Welles’ mother urged prosecutors to pursue first-degree murder charges against Humphrey, emphasizing the devastating impact of her son’s untimely passing. She expressed her desire for no leniency towards Humphrey, emphasizing the severity of his actions and the profound loss her family has endured.