On January 11, 2023, at approximately 5:30 p.m., 16-year-old Semaj Richardson was fatally shot in Philadelphia's Tioga neighborhood. Officers responding to reports of gunfire found Semaj in a vacant lot on the 1400 block of West Erie Avenue, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds to his chest, back, and arm. He was immediately transported to Temple University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly before 6 p.m.
Surveillance footage from the area captured two suspects, believed to be teenagers, exiting a convenience store near the scene. Upon spotting Semaj, both individuals drew firearms and opened fire. The video shows the suspects fleeing the scene immediately after the shooting.
Despite the release of the surveillance footage and a $20,000 reward offered by the City of Philadelphia for information leading to an arrest and conviction, no arrests have been made in connection with Semaj's murder. The Philadelphia Police Department continues to seek assistance from the public in identifying the suspects involved in this tragic incident.
