On a tragic Friday afternoon, July 8, 2022, Khalid Jesse Brittingham, a 25-year-old man, was shot and killed in what police described as a targeted ambush. The fatal incident unfolded as Brittingham was part of a funeral procession in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, mourning a Philadelphia homicide victim. He was in a vehicle with 21-year-old Tyrese Long when another car pulled alongside theirs on Marshall Road near Powell Lane and unleashed a barrage of bullets.
Both Brittingham and Long were struck multiple times and were pronounced dead at the scene.
The brazen nature of the daylight shooting, which occurred around 1 p.m., sent shockwaves through the community. Law enforcement officials were quick to state their belief that the attack was not a random act of violence. Upper Darby Police Superintendent Timothy Bernhardt characterized the shooting as '100% targeted' and an 'ambush,' suggesting the victims were deliberately followed and assassinated as they crossed into Upper Darby from Philadelphia. The procession was on its way to the Friends Southwestern Burial Ground. The chaos of the scene was palpable as the peaceful mourning of one life was violently interrupted by the loss of two more.
In the immediate aftermath, the Upper Darby Police Department launched an intensive investigation, working in conjunction with Philadelphia police to unravel the motive behind the killings and to identify those responsible. Investigators interviewed numerous witnesses who were part of the funeral procession and scoured the area for surveillance footage that might have captured the assailants' vehicle. Shortly after the incident, police released photographs of a man they were keen to identify and speak with in connection to the double homicide.
Despite these efforts and the public circulation of the person of interest's image, the investigation has not led to any arrests. As of early 2026, the case officially remains unsolved. The community continues to await a breakthrough that might bring justice for Khalid Jesse Brittingham and Tyrese Long. The police have continued to appeal to the public for any information that could lead to the apprehension of the suspect or suspects involved in the deadly shooting.
