In the city of Philadelphia, a 20-year-old woman named Tiyaniah Hopkins had dreams of one day owning her own dance studio or restaurant. Those who knew her described her as full of life, intelligent, and someone who loved to dance and write. Tragically, her aspirations and vibrant life were cut short in a brutal act of violence that also claimed the lives of three other people.
On November 19, 2018, Tiyaniah, her 17-year-old sister Yaleah Hall, 31-year-old William Taylor, and 28-year-old
Akeem Mattox were found deceased in the basement of a house on Malcolm Street. The discovery was made after a family member, concerned after not hearing from one of the victims, found the door ajar and contacted the police. Responding officers found a grim scene in the basement: each of the four victims had been shot once in the head in what authorities described as an 'execution-style' slaying. It appeared to investigators that the victims had been led to the basement, as there were no signs of a struggle.
The investigation into the quadruple homicide revealed a story of a drug deal gone tragically wrong. Authorities believe that Taylor and Mattox, who were stepbrothers and had recently moved into the home they were renovating, had found a quantity of drugs and arranged to sell them. However, the supposed buyers turned out to be robbers. It is believed that Tiyaniah and her sister were not involved in the drug transaction but were tragically in the wrong place at the wrong time, killed to eliminate any witnesses.
The senseless violence of the crime spurred a determined investigation by the Philadelphia police. Their efforts, combining traditional detective work with modern technology, led to the identification and arrest of suspects. Four men were ultimately taken into custody and charged in connection with the murders. Jahlil Porter, 32, Robert Long, 30, Nasir Moss Robertson, 36, and Keith Garner, 34, all from Philadelphia, faced charges including murder, robbery, criminal conspiracy, and related offenses.
