In the fall of 2022, a young Black man's life was cut tragically short on a Philadelphia subway train. Semaj Cherry, a 21-year-old male, was shot and killed on Monday, November 7, 2022, while riding the SEPTA Broad Street Line. The incident unfolded around 2:40 p.m. as the train was pulling into the Fairmount Avenue station in North Philadelphia. At the time, Cherry was reportedly on his way to buy something for his two-year-old daughter.
Authorities have described the fatal encounter as
a targeted event stemming from a botched robbery. During the altercation, Semaj Cherry was shot 11 times. He was rushed to Temple University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. It was also reported that another teenager was injured during the incident. At least a dozen other passengers were on the train at the time of the shooting, but no one else was physically harmed.
In the days following the shooting, police arrested 16-year-old Rasheed Born in connection with the murder. Born was charged with murder, robbery, firearm violations, and ten counts of recklessly endangering another person. Investigators believe that Born was the instigator of the incident, attempting to rob Cherry. It was also revealed that Cherry was armed and had fired back at his assailant, striking Born in the arm. Rasheed Born was held without bail and awaited a preliminary hearing.
