A summer evening of play turned into a tragedy for 7-year-old Zamar Jones, a young boy who was shot in the head while on the porch of his West Philadelphia home on Saturday, August 1, 2020. He was playing with his toy race car and scooter on the 200 block of North Simpson Street when a gun battle erupted between three men. The young boy was caught in the crossfire and sustained a fatal head wound.
He was rushed to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, where he died from his injuries two days later.
The incident began when Christopher Linder, then 27, drove onto the block and opened fire at a group of people. This prompted two other men, Michael Banks, 30, and Damar Jones, 27 to return fire. In the exchange of bullets, Zamar was struck. After the initial shooting, Linder crashed his truck, stole another vehicle to flee, and was apprehended by police when he later returned to the scene for his own vehicle.
Within days, all three men involved in the shootout were in custody. Christopher Linder was arrested shortly after the incident and his charges were upgraded to murder following Zamar's death. Michael Banks and Damar Jones both turned themselves in to the police. All three men faced charges including murder, attempted murder, and other related offenses. A $20,000 reward had been offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Banks and Damar Jones.
In the ensuing legal proceedings, all three men were held accountable for their roles in the young boy's death. In a plea agreement, Christopher Linder pleaded guilty to criminal attempted murder, voluntary manslaughter, and illegal possession of a firearm and was sentenced to 25 to 50 years in state prison. Michael Banks, who prosecutors say fired the shot that struck Zamar while returning fire at Linder's fleeing truck, pleaded guilty to criminal attempted murder and related offenses. Damar Jones also pleaded guilty to firearms violations and was sentenced to three to six years in prison.
