In the midst of a promising senior year with plans for college in the fall, 17-year-old Deandre Bing's life was tragically cut short. A student at Eastern University Academy Charter School in East Falls, he was remembered by his mother, Tiffany, for his beautiful smile, dimples, and his consistently kind, considerate, and happy nature. Having lost his father when he was just five months old, Deandre shared an especially tight bond with his mother.
On January 23, 2015, Deandre had made
plans to visit a friend in North Philadelphia. While walking along the 2100 block of North Lambert Street, he was fatally shot. An unknown assailant approached him and shot him once in the chest.
To date, no arrests have been made in connection with Deandre's murder. Law enforcement officials have identified a person of interest, but the investigation has been impeded by a witness's refusal to provide a statement. A reward of up to $20,000 has been offered for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the individual responsible for this homicide. In honor of his memory, his high school established the DeAndre Bing Think Big Scholarship, which is awarded to five students each year. His mother and family also raise funds to provide an additional scholarship annually. Every year on the anniversary of his death, family, friends, and faculty from his school gather for a candlelight vigil at the Lawncrest Recreational Center to remember the young man whose future was taken from him.
