In the early hours of August 20, 2013, a night of violence in Chester, Pennsylvania, claimed the life of 20-year-old Basilio 'B.J.' Clausell Jr., a Hispanic male. Clausell was behind the wheel of his car on McDowell Avenue when he was struck by gunfire. Witnesses reported hearing multiple shots ring out as he was driving on Ninth Street in the city's Sun Village section.
The shots found their mark, hitting Clausell in the head and hand.
Following the shooting, Clausell was found unconscious in the driver's seat of his vehicle at the corner of 10th Street and McDowell Avenue at approximately 12:15 a.m. He was transported to a hospital but ultimately succumbed to his injuries. His death was one of three separate fatal shootings that occurred in Chester within a violent one-hour span that night.
Authorities noted at the time that some of the victims of that night's violence were known to law enforcement. It was mentioned that Clausell had led police on a chase through the city the previous summer. In the immediate aftermath of the shootings, Chester police increased their presence on the streets in an effort to quell the violence.
Despite the passage of time, the fatal shooting of Basillio Clausell remains an unsolved case. To date, there has been no public announcement of any suspects or arrests in connection with his murder. The circumstances surrounding his death have left his family and the community with lingering questions and a case that continues to await a resolution.
