Khaleef Johnson

On the evening of January 13, 2014, Khaleef Johnson, a 23-year-old Black male, was on the 600 block of North Franklin Place in a Philadelphia neighborhood just west of Northern Liberties. At around 9:00 p.m., Philadelphia Police officers responded to the street, also identified as Perth Place, where they discovered Johnson suffering from several bullet wounds.

The officers transported Johnson to Hahnemann University Hospital for emergency medical care. He was pronounced dead at 9:18 p.m. that same night. According to police, he had been shot multiple times in the back. Johnson was a resident of the 2000 block of North 24th Street.

In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, investigators began searching for suspects and a motive. While no official theory was released, a police source indicated that Johnson’s murder may have been connected to another recent homicide. Authorities were reportedly exploring the possibility that the shooting was in retaliation for the New Year's Eve 2013 killing of Tracey Devine, an 18-year-old local basketball star.

No arrests were ever made in connection with Khaleef Johnson's death, and by late January 2014, police confirmed the case was still under investigation. His murder remains unsolved. The Philadelphia Police Department asks anyone with information to contact them at 215-686-TIPS (8477). Callers can remain anonymous.