On a Sunday afternoon, November 1, 2015, in the Strawberry Mansion neighborhood of Philadelphia, 16-year-old Saleem West was riding his bicycle with a friend. Their ride was interrupted when a silver Buick began to follow them. The vehicle eventually pulled ahead, and two individuals emerged from the car. As Saleem and his friend attempted to flee, a barrage of seventeen bullets was fired in their direction. Saleem was struck once in the back and tragically died from the wound.
His friend managed to escape without injury.
Saleem was a junior at Delaware Valley Charter High School where he was a point guard on the varsity basketball team. He had dreams of playing in college and eventually the NBA. His mother described him as her 'miracle baby,' her only child with whom she shared a very close bond. Although he had recently been involved with the wrong crowd, he was reportedly making efforts to turn his life around and had started seeing a new therapist.
Within days of the shooting, Philadelphia police arrested two 17-year-olds, Rahiem Feaster and Tyree Johnson. They were charged with murder and authorities indicated the motive was likely an ongoing feud between two rival groups of teenagers in the area. The case against Feaster and Johnson proceeded to trial, and both were ultimately convicted in connection with Saleem West's murder.
