In the early morning hours of Thanksgiving Day in 2015, a young man's life was tragically cut short in the Port Richmond neighborhood of Philadelphia. Twenty-one-year-old Ryan Kelly was walking home from a Wawa when he was approached by two men in a stolen Mazda. An altercation ensued, and Kelly was fatally shot in the chest on his own street. His mother, who was waiting for him at the door, witnessed the horrific event.
Ryan was rushed to Temple University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The senseless act of violence robbed a family of their youngest of five children and left a community in mourning.
Following the murder, the Philadelphia Police Department launched an investigation. A significant lead came from surveillance footage at a nearby TD Bank, where two individuals were seen attempting to use a debit card. The investigation led to the identification of two suspects who were also wanted in connection with a series of other robberies committed on the same day. The stolen Mazda used in the crime was later recovered. A $20,000 reward was offered for information that would lead to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for Ryan Kelly's death.
In January 2016, a breakthrough in the case came with the arrest of 18-year-old David Ramos Jr. He was taken into custody without incident in the Frankford section of the city and was subsequently charged with murder, robbery, and other related offenses. Shortly after, a second suspect, Keanan Glenn, was apprehended in New Castle, Delaware, and extradited to Philadelphia to face the same charges. Glenn later pleaded guilty to third-degree murder, robbery, and other charges, receiving a sentence of 20 to 40 years in prison. The legal proceedings for David Ramos Jr. involved discussions of a potential plea bargain, which was met with concern from the victim's family, who advocated for a trial to seek justice for Ryan.
