In the Frankford neighborhood of Philadelphia, on the evening of December 20, 2023, the life of 19-year-old Isaiah Justin Pagan was tragically cut short. A talented baseball player with a fastball clocked at 89 mph, he was a young man with dreams of a future in real estate, having already purchased and rented out a home at the age of 18. A White male, he was known for his energetic and determined nature, teaching himself to ride a bike and excelling in karate from a young age.
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Wednesday, shortly after 6 p.m., a gunman entered the mini-mart of a gas station on the 5200 block of Oxford Avenue and opened fire. Isaiah was struck multiple times. Responding police officers found him unresponsive inside the store and rushed him to Temple University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Two other individuals were also wounded in the shooting. A 19-year-old man, who was sitting in a car outside, was shot in the leg, and a woman in her late twenties suffered a graze wound to her foot while pumping gas. Both were hospitalized in stable condition.
Isaiah's death came just a few months after he had begun an apprenticeship as a glazer in September 2023, a trade he hoped would complement his real estate ambitions. His dedication to his family was evident; he had stepped up to help support them after a car accident left his father unable to work, even helping his father learn to walk again. A graduate of Franklintown Charter High School, he was remembered by his family as a goofy, lovable, and huggable young man who brought smiles to those around him.
The investigation into the shooting led to an arrest on January 31, 2024. Philadelphia Police apprehended a suspect, identified as Yaseem Cruz Davis, who was subsequently charged with murder and other related offenses in connection with Isaiah Pagan's death. The case is currently pending trial.
