On Easter Sunday, April 1, 2018, a dispute between two groups of teenagers on Philadelphia's South Street turned fatal, claiming the life of 16-year-old William Bethel. A sophomore and honor student at Boys' Latin of Philadelphia Charter School, Bethel was a scholar-athlete who participated in boxing, football, and basketball. He was with his cousin and two friends when they encountered another group of teens.
The incident, which took place on the 800 block of South Street, escalated when words were exchanged, reportedly over a young woman.
During the argument, 18-year-old Zahmir White, also known as 'Pikachu,' opened fire. As Bethel and a friend tried to flee, White fired four shots, one of which struck Bethel in the lower back. He was rushed to Thomas Jefferson University Hospital with a gunshot wound to his pelvis and died two days later. The shooting was described as senseless by authorities, who noted Bethel had no involvement in street altercations.
After a nearly two-month search, police arrested Zahmir White on May 23, 2018, at a relative's home in West Philadelphia, acting on a tip. He was charged with murder and various gun offenses.
At his trial in April 2019, White admitted to shooting Bethel but claimed it was in self-defense, stating he feared one of Bethel's friends had a gun. Prosecutors argued the shooting was a deliberate and intentional act, presenting evidence that White intended to shoot Bethel's friend, Christopher Elliott, but missed and hit Bethel instead. The jury ultimately delivered a mixed verdict, acquitting White of murder but convicting him of voluntary manslaughter, indicating they believed he acted under an unreasonable and mistaken belief of self-defense. He was also found guilty of the attempted murder of Elliott, aggravated assault, and weapons charges.
In June 2019, a Common Pleas Court Judge sentenced Zahmir White to 25 to 50 years in state prison. The judge remarked on the terrible consequences of White's actions, noting that Bethel was a young man 'doing all the right things' who was killed for 'absolutely no reason'.
