Alexis Quinn, a 24-year-old Black woman who worked as a home health aide, was known by her family as a loving daughter and a homebody. Her mother, Tina Quinn, called her "mini-me," and Alexis affectionately called her mother "old lady." Though she usually preferred to stay home, Alexis had decided she wanted to start going out more to enjoy her life.
Her family said she loved learning new TikTok dances and her favorite color was purple.
On the night of June 4, 2022, Alexis was out with friends in the popular South Street nightlife district of Philadelphia when a mass shooting erupted. The violence began around 11:30 p.m. with a physical altercation between several men that quickly escalated to gunfire. As the initial shots rang out, other gunmen who were not involved in the original dispute began firing into the crowds of people who were running for safety. Alexis was trying to escape the chaos when she was struck in the chest by a stray bullet. She collapsed near Third and South Streets and died a short time later at a hospital. She was one of three people killed in the shooting, which also left 11 others wounded.
Investigators used a combination of surveillance and cell phone videos to piece together the complex sequence of events, which involved at least five different gunmen. Police recovered several firearms from the scene, including one with an extended magazine and a homemade "ghost gun." The investigation led to several arrests, including two men involved in the initial fight and shooting, Rashaan Vereen and Quran Garner, who were charged with offenses including attempted murder and aggravated assault.
Authorities identified two other men who they believe fired randomly into the fleeing crowds. One of them, 18-year-old Qaadir Dukes-Hill, was identified by prosecutors as the person who fired the shot that killed Alexis Quinn. He and another suspect, Nahjee Whittington, who was charged with killing the other innocent bystander, were apprehended by U.S. Marshals in Richmond, Virginia. Dukes-Hill was extradited to Philadelphia and charged with murder, conspiracy, and related offenses in Alexis’s death.
At a preliminary hearing in September 2022, a judge heard evidence and testimony before ruling that the first-degree murder charges against Qaadir Dukes-Hill would be upheld. The judge ordered him to stand trial, stating that a jury would decide his intent when he fired into a crowded street. As of that month, the case was proceeding to trial.
