In the Mayfair section of Philadelphia, a story of a young life cut short unfolded in January 2020. Lexus Jawanda Brice, a 25-year-old Black female, was a woman who wore many hats: a devoted foster mother to three children, a home health care worker, and a school bus driver for the Cheltenham School District. Her life, however, took a tragic turn when she was found dead in her home on the 4100 block of Levick Street.
On the evening of Thursday, January 9, 2020, Brice's mother grew
worried after not hearing from her daughter throughout the day, which was highly unusual. Arriving at the home, she discovered the back door had been forced open and immediately contacted the police. Officers responded to the call and, upon searching the residence, made a grim discovery in a second-floor bedroom. Lexus Brice was found on the floor with a gunshot wound to her neck. Medical personnel were called to the scene, but it was too late; she was pronounced dead. Investigators believe she had been killed sometime between 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. that day.
The initial investigation into Brice's death left detectives with more questions than answers. The bedroom where she was found showed signs of a struggle. Police began to explore two primary theories: a domestic dispute or a home-invasion robbery. Adding to the mystery, two of Brice’s legally owned 9mm handguns were missing from the home, along with two magazines for the weapons. A single 9mm shell casing was recovered from the scene of the crime. At the time of the initial reports, no suspects had been identified, and no arrests had been made in connection with her murder.
In the years that have followed, the case of Lexus Jawanda Brice's murder has remained unsolved. The Philadelphia Police Department continues to list her death as an open investigation and encourages anyone with information to come forward. A reward was offered for information leading to an arrest and conviction in the case. The community remembers Brice as a wonderful mother and person, leaving her family, including her mother, sister, and brother, still seeking justice for her untimely death.
