In the summer of 2019, a Philadelphia woman's life was cut short by a burst of violence that left a community searching for answers. On the evening of Monday, June 24, 2019, 43-year-old Tamika Walker was outside a residence on the 2100 block of Bailey Terrace. At approximately 9:51 p.m., Philadelphia Police officers were called to the scene where they discovered a chaotic and violent tableau.
Five people had been attacked; three were shot and two were stabbed.
Tamika Walker had sustained multiple gunshot wounds. She was rushed to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, but her injuries proved to be fatal, and she did not survive. Two other shooting victims, a 59-year-old man and a 51-year-old woman, were taken to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania for treatment. The two stabbing victims were also transported to the same hospital. Tamika resided on the same block where the attack occurred. The investigation into her murder is ongoing, and as of now, it remains an unsolved crime. Authorities have not publicly identified any suspects or made any arrests in connection with the shooting. The Philadelphia Police Department continues to ask for the public's help, urging anyone with information to come forward.
Just a month prior to this tragic event, another Philadelphia woman who was also known as Tamika fell victim to a fatal act of violence. In the early morning hours of Sunday, May 19, 2019, police responded to a report of a person with a gun on the 3400 block of North 11th Street. There they found 40-year-old Michelle 'Tamika' Washington suffering from multiple gunshot wounds to her head, side, and buttocks. Washington, a transgender woman and a respected advocate for LGBTQ rights, was taken to Temple University Hospital where she was pronounced dead.
The investigation into Washington's death led to an arrest. Troy Bailey, 28, was taken into custody on the evening of Monday, May 20, 2019. Initially, Bailey presented himself as an eyewitness to the crime and allegedly attempted to mislead investigators by providing a false description of a suspect. However, surveillance footage showed Bailey and Washington together before the shooting, indicating they were acquainted. Bailey was subsequently identified as the primary suspect and charged with murder and other related offenses. While Bailey claimed the shooting stemmed from a dispute over the sale of a firearm, authorities have suggested that Washington's identity as a transgender woman may have been a motive, though the case is not being investigated as a hate crime.
