On August 19, 2013, the lives of two young men, including 18-year-old Frank Perkins from Chester, Pennsylvania, were tragically cut short in an act of senseless violence. Frank, just stepping into adulthood, had his entire future ahead of him—dreams, ambitions, and the promise of a full life. That evening, as he and 22-year-old David Colon Jr. made their way up a pathway leading to the Chester Apartments, their lives were suddenly and violently stolen.
Both young men were shot in the back, a cruel and devastating attack that left the community in mourning.
Authorities rushed to the scene, but the injuries proved fatal. Frank Perkins, an 18-year-old male from Chester, PA, lost his life, leaving a deep void in the hearts of those who loved him. The news of his death rippled through his family, his friends, and the city of Chester, yet another young life extinguished by the ongoing violence that plagues so many communities. The pain of losing someone so young is immeasurable—a mother losing her son, siblings losing their brother, friends losing a companion, and a community losing another bright light.
Frank Perkins, 18, was honored in an obituary published in the *Delaware County Daily & Sunday Times*, where his passing on August 19, 2013, was announced. His funeral was held on September 3, 2013, at St. Luke’s Christian Community Church in Chester, where his family and friends gathered to say their final goodbyes. The weight of grief in that room must have been suffocating—memories flashing before the eyes of those who knew him best, the laughter they shared, the plans they made, now reduced to nothing more than painful recollections. He was laid to rest at Lawn Croft Cemetery in Linwood, Pennsylvania, where his loved ones could visit and remember the life he once lived.
Despite the tragic and public nature of the killings, justice has yet to be served. As of now, there have been no arrests, no suspects named, no answers to the questions that haunt the families of Frank Perkins and David Colon Jr. Who took their lives? Why? The silence surrounding their case is deafening, leaving loved ones in a limbo of grief and frustration. There is no closure, no accountability—just a gaping wound that refuses to heal.
Frank Perkins was more than just another victim of gun violence. He was an 18-year-old young man with a story, a future, a life that mattered. His name should not be forgotten, nor should the search for justice ever cease. The city of Chester, a community far too familiar with the echoes of gunfire and the sorrow that follows, deserves answers. More importantly, Frank’s family deserves justice. Until that day comes, they will continue to mourn, continue to remember, and continue to hope that someone, somewhere, will step forward with the truth.
