In the early evening of December 15, 2021, a burst of gunfire shattered the quiet on the 3100 block of Barnett Street in Philadelphia. When the chaos subsided, 23-year-old Tymir Johnson, a Black male, was found lying in the street next to a white Chevy Malibu, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was rushed to Jefferson Torresdale Hospital but did not survive his injuries. The shooting, which occurred at approximately 5:35 p.m., also left two other men wounded.
A 22-year-old male was shot in his legs and taken to the same hospital, while a 29-year-old male was transported to Albert Einstein Medical Center with a leg wound. Both were listed in stable condition. Johnson resided on Elbridge Street in Philadelphia.
The investigation into the triple shooting was extensive. For over a year and a half, law enforcement pieced together evidence from various crime scenes across Northeast and Northwest Philadelphia. Investigators utilized ballistic matches, surveillance footage, cellphone records, and social media analysis to connect a string of violent incidents. A key piece of evidence was a vehicle that appeared at multiple shooting scenes, linking the crimes to a small group of individuals. This meticulous police work eventually led to a significant breakthrough in the case.
On August 31, 2023, authorities announced an arrest in connection with the murder of Tymir Johnson. Further investigation revealed the shooting was part of a violent crime spree orchestrated by members of the 6600 gang, who were allegedly targeting a rival crew. Two men, Chris Byard, 27, and Daquan Bishop, 28, were charged in connection with the series of attacks that left three men dead, including Johnson, and five others wounded.
In February 2026, a Philadelphia jury convicted Byard and Bishop for their roles in the deadly rampage. Byard was found guilty of three counts of first-degree murder, including the killing of Tymir Johnson, and received three consecutive life sentences. Bishop was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder and was handed two consecutive life sentences. The convictions brought a close to a violent chapter that had plagued several Philadelphia neighborhoods in late 2021 and early 2022.
