In the early evening of a summer day in Chester, Pennsylvania, tragedy struck a 33-year-old Black male named William Byrd Jr. On June 14, 2021, on the 2000 block of West 4th Street, a burst of gunfire shattered the night, leaving two men wounded. When police arrived at the chaotic scene around 9 p.m., they discovered 19-year-old Rashad Coleman in the middle of the street, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.
Though seriously injured, Coleman was conscious and alert before being rushed to Crozer Chester Medical Center.
Nearby, officers noticed a car that had been hit by the gunfire. Inside this vehicle, they found William Byrd Jr., who had also sustained gunshot wounds. Paramedics from Crozer Chester Medical Center were called to the scene, but Byrd's injuries were too severe. He was pronounced dead at the scene, his life abruptly ended in a hail of bullets. The incident was quickly classified as a double shooting and a homicide investigation was launched by the City of Chester Police Department.
In the days following the shooting, authorities publicly identified both Byrd and Coleman as the victims. While Coleman was listed in serious condition, the community mourned the loss of Byrd. Investigators from both the City of Chester and Delaware County began their work, appealing to the public for any information that could lead to the identification and capture of those responsible for this violent act. Detectives urged anyone with knowledge of the case to come forward. Despite these public pleas for assistance, information regarding any suspects has not been released. To date, there has been no public announcement of any arrests made in connection with the murder of William Byrd Jr., and the case remains an open investigation.
