In the early hours of a Tuesday in March, the promise of a new beginning for a young Philadelphia man was tragically cut short. Twenty-three-year-old Richard Lewis, a Black male, had recently graduated from the Keystone Job Corps in October and was eagerly looking forward to starting his studies to become an auto mechanic the following Monday. He had just spoken with his parents, Richard and Deborah Lewis, about getting tokens for his job search, a conversation that would unknowingly be their last.
At approximately 2:12 a.m. on March 21, 2017, the sound of gunfire echoed through the 6000 block of North 4th Street. When Philadelphia Police officers arrived at the scene, they discovered Richard suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Paramedics who were also present confirmed that he had succumbed to his injuries right there on the pavement. Richard, who resided on the 6100 block of North Marshall Street, was pronounced dead at the scene.
The investigation into Richard's death is ongoing, and as of now, it remains an unsolved murder. The detectives assigned to the case have not publicly identified any suspects or made any arrests. The Philadelphia Police Department continues to urge anyone with information regarding the shooting to come forward, offering the option of anonymity to encourage potential witnesses to help bring justice to Richard and his grieving family. His parents remember him as a son they always prayed for when he went out, and now they are left to mourn the one time he didn't come back.
