Valenzia Jones, a 31-year-old Black woman and mother of two from Philadelphia, was remembered by loved ones with the nickname "Boobie." Her life was cut short in the early morning hours of Sunday, September 18, 2022, during a dispute that turned deadly in North Philadelphia.
Around 5:44 a.m., a conflict between two groups on the 1700 block of Lehigh Avenue escalated into gunfire.
Philadelphia Police officers responded to the scene and discovered Valenzia inside her vehicle, suffering from a gunshot wound to the face. The officers placed her in their patrol car and rushed her to Temple University Hospital, but she was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
A second victim, 35-year-old Dante Woodard, was found lying in the street nearby. He had been shot multiple times and was transported to the same hospital in critical condition. Despite the efforts of medical staff, Dante succumbed to his injuries two days later, on September 20, 2022.
The Philadelphia Police Department launched an investigation into the double homicide. On November 8, 2022, authorities arrested a suspect, Matthew Herbert, in connection with the murders. He was subsequently charged with murder and related offenses for his role in the deaths of Valenzia Jones and Dante Woodard.
Matthew Herbert was brought to trial, where a jury convicted him on all counts for the murder of Valenzia Jones. Following the verdict, he was sentenced for the crime. Herbert later appealed the decision, but the Pennsylvania Superior Court upheld his conviction, bringing the legal proceedings in the case to a close.
