Tragedy struck the Roxborough High School community in 2022 when a 14-year-old student, Nicolas Elizalde, was fatally shot while walking back to school with his teammates after a football scrimmage. The senseless act, carried out by five suspects who fired over 60 bullets at the group, left the community reeling.
Details of the Incident: On September 27, 2022, Zyhied Jones, then 17 years old, was among the perpetrators involved in the shooting on Pechin Street that claimed Elizalde’s life. Jones, now 19, pleaded guilty to third-degree murder, four counts of attempted murder, conspiracy, and gun crimes. The scheduled sentencing may result in a combined prison sentence exceeding 300 years, according to Judge Barbara McDermott.
Elizalde, a promising student and football player, was gunned down as he and his teammates walked back to the locker room. Police believe the shooting was a planned attack, targeting innocent victims. The shooters lay in wait inside a stolen vehicle parked nearby and unleashed a hail of gunfire on the unsuspecting group.
Jones was apprehended in October 2022, becoming the second suspect arrested in connection with the tragic event. Evidence recovered from the getaway car, including a marijuana wrapper with Jones’ DNA, linked him to the crime scene. Additionally, other suspects were arrested in subsequent weeks, with the final suspect, Dayron Burney-Thorn, captured a year later after evading authorities.
Aside from the Roxborough shooting, Jones, along with Fletcher and Burney-Thorn, were also implicated in the fatal shooting of 19-year-old Tahmir Jones in North Philly the day before the school attack. In this case, Jones pleaded guilty to third-degree murder, conspiracy, and gun crimes.