An aspiring rapper's life was tragically cut short in a brazen daylight shooting in North Philadelphia, a violent act that also wounded his young relative. Jerry Gooden, a 32-year-old man, was on the porch of his family's home on the 1100 block of West Somerset Street on the morning of November 12, 2020, engrossed in writing rap lyrics. It was approximately 11:30 a.m.
when the sound of gunfire shattered the neighborhood's calm.
Struck by bullets, Gooden, known to his loved ones as 'Tay,' managed to run back into the house, crying out that he had been shot. Inside, his aunt witnessed the horrific scene as he bled from his wounds. In the chaos that followed, it became terrifyingly clear that the danger had not passed. A bullet pierced the home, striking Gooden's 4-year-old cousin, Zylah McQueen. The young girl was hit in the chest, shoulder, and arm.
Both victims were rushed to nearby hospitals. Jerry Gooden, having sustained gunshot wounds to his neck and buttocks, was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at Temple University Hospital. His young cousin was taken to St. Christopher's Hospital for Children, where she was listed in stable condition. The child's grandmother later confirmed that she was doing well under the circumstances.
In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, police had not made any arrests or recovered any weapons from the scene. Gooden's family was left reeling, struggling to comprehend why he would be targeted. His aunt mentioned that he had only recently moved to her home from another part of the city and did not know anyone in the area, making the attack all the more baffling and devastating to his loved ones. The investigation into the shooting is ongoing.
