In the West Oak Lane neighborhood of Philadelphia, 17-year-old Antoine Coleman Jr.'s life was tragically cut short on the evening of October 18, 2017. A senior at Excel Academy South High School, he was a well-mannered and respectful young man with dreams of becoming a mechanic. Known affectionately as 'Twon,' he was popular in school and, according to the SEPTA bus driver who drove him daily, a standout for his good behavior.
After years of searching, Antoine had recently connected with his biological father at the age of 15, a joyful reunion that brought him closer to a larger family with whom he was building strong bonds.
On that fateful October night, Antoine was leaving a store with two friends on the 6700 block of North 16th Street when he was caught in the crossfire of a shooting. He was struck twice in the head and was pronounced dead at Einstein Medical Center just 40 minutes later. Authorities later stated that Antoine had no gang connections and was simply an innocent bystander in the wrong place at the wrong time.
The investigation into Antoine's death was aided by surveillance footage that captured the perpetrator. This evidence proved crucial in the subsequent arrest and conviction of the individual responsible for the shooting. Though the name of the suspect, described at the time as a Black male in his early to mid-20s, has not been publicly disclosed in available reports, it is known that he was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. A mural of Antoine's face now marks the spot where his life was taken, a permanent reminder of the young man whose future was stolen by senseless violence.
