On the night of March 13, 2020, a 25-year-old man named Quincy White was inside a Chinese takeout restaurant at the corner of 20th Street and Ridge Avenue in North Philadelphia. His life was cut short when he was shot and killed during what police described as an attempted robbery. The incident occurred shortly after 12:30 a.m., and though he was rushed to a nearby hospital, he succumbed to his injuries.
Quincy, who was described by his mother, Theresa Madison, as a generous and caring
person with a 'cinnamonny' complexion, light hair, and light eyes, was a father to a young son named Kaleb. He was known for his creative, fun, and playful personality, but his trusting nature sometimes made it difficult for him to distinguish between good and bad people. Having been born in Philadelphia, he had spent a significant part of his life in Florida before returning to his birth city. The loss of his best friend to violence in Orlando just six months prior had sent him into a state of grief.
The investigation into the shooting led to the arrest of a suspect. Surveillance footage reportedly showed two men attacking White before the fatal shot was fired. Philadelphia police later arrested and charged Tamir Washington with murder in connection with the case.
In the months following her son's death, Theresa Madison made an emotional public plea for an end to gun violence in the city. She organized a balloon release to honor Quincy's memory, expressing the profound and lasting pain her family has endured. She described the loss as a permanent hole in her heart, like a tree that has lost a branch that will never regrow.
