On March 13, 2023, at approximately 12:06 p.m., 15-year-old Neko Rivera was fatally shot in Philadelphia's Crescentville neighborhood. Officers responding to reports of a person with a gun found Rivera on the 6100 block of Algon Avenue, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds to his torso, arms, and legs. He was immediately transported to Albert Einstein Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 12:41 p.m.
Rivera, a freshman at Kensington High School, had left school early that day and was visiting a friend's home near the shooting location. Surveillance footage revealed that he was chased by at least three individuals through the Oxford Village housing complex before being shot approximately ten times. Investigators recovered three different sets of ballistics at the scene, indicating multiple shooters.
In the aftermath of the shooting, nearby Samuel Fels High School was placed on lockdown due to a disturbance earlier that day involving individuals attempting to enter the building. Authorities are investigating whether this incident is connected to Rivera's death.
As of December 2023, no arrests have been made in connection with Rivera's murder. The Philadelphia Police Department has released surveillance footage of one of the shooters and is offering a $30,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction. They urge anyone with information to contact the Homicide Unit at 215-686-3334 or submit a tip via the department's website.
Rivera's death marked the 17th Philadelphia public school student killed during the 2022-2023 academic year, highlighting the ongoing issue of gun violence affecting the city's youth. His mother, Esther Kim, has publicly pleaded for anyone with information to come forward, emphasizing the profound loss and the need for justice.
