In the early morning hours of July 7, 2015, the life of 27-year-old Julius Colzie, a Black male from West Philadelphia, was cut short by violence. Philadelphia police officers responded to a call on the 1600 block of Ithan Street in the Kingsessing neighborhood, where they discovered a grim scene. Inside a black 2006 Nissan Altima, Colzie was found unresponsive in the driver's seat.
He had sustained a single, fatal gunshot wound to the left side of his head.
Paramedics were called to the location and, at approximately 2:38 a.m., they officially pronounced Julius Colzie deceased at the scene. A resident of the 100 block of North 58th Street, Colzie's death was quickly classified as a homicide by investigators. The initial investigation painted a picture of a targeted act, yet the reasons behind the killing remained elusive to law enforcement.
Despite the efforts of the Philadelphia Police Department's homicide detectives, the case has grown cold over the years. No suspects have ever been publicly identified in connection with the murder of Julius Colzie, and a motive for the shooting has not been established. The investigation has been hampered by a lack of forthcoming witnesses and limited leads for detectives to pursue. As a result, no arrests have been made, and the case remains an open and unsolved homicide, one of many that have troubled the city. Authorities continue to appeal to the public for any information that might lead to a breakthrough and bring a measure of justice to Colzie's family.
