Raheem Jefferson dies in fatal North Philly shooting
Fatal North Philly shooting death of Raheem Jefferson – Obituary
Raheem Jefferson, a 43-year-old resident of Philadelphia, was tragically killed in a targeted shooting at a North Philadelphia mosque parking lot on Tuesday, according to Chief Inspector Scott Small of the Philadelphia Police Department.
The incident unfolded around 5 p.m. on the 1500 block of Germantown Avenue, in the parking area of the Al-Aqsa Islamic Society. Jefferson was struck by multiple bullets, including at least one to the head, and was declared deceased at Temple University Hospital at 5:13 p.m. The police have identified Jefferson as the victim.
Authorities reported that the assailant, who was clad in dark clothing, fired at least 17 rounds from a high-caliber semi-automatic weapon. Surveillance footage captured Jefferson walking towards the mosque with another individual prior to the attack.
The gunman approached from behind and began shooting Jefferson. After the initial assault, the shooter stood over Jefferson and continued to fire, though the other person with him was unharmed.
The perpetrator fled in a dark-colored sedan, possibly with a spare tire mounted on the front passenger side. The motive behind the shooting remains unclear, but it appears Jefferson was specifically targeted.
On Tuesday evening, the mosque’s parking lot was littered with shell casings and evidence markers as investigators combed through the scene.
Ashraf Abdelrazek, who was present at the mosque during the shooting, recounted, “I didn’t see anything until I went outside and found someone lying on the ground, having lost all their blood.”
Police have interviewed several witnesses, including the individual Jefferson was with at the time of the shooting.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro addressed the incident on X (formerly Twitter) Tuesday night, expressing sorrow over the violence at a place of worship. “Violence outside of a house of worship is deeply painful and traumatizing for those simply showing up to worship and practice their faith,” Shapiro wrote. “As the investigation into this killing proceeds, I’m praying for the Al-Aqsa Islamic Society community, hoping they find solace in each other and their faith.”
The Philadelphia chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations also responded to the shooting. Ahmet Tekelioglu, CAIR-Philadelphia’s executive director, expressed concern and urged local leaders and interfaith groups to support the Al-Aqsa community. “Whether this tragic shooting is connected to the broader gun violence crisis in our city or another cause, we call on local leaders to offer their support and ensure a thorough investigation,” Tekelioglu said.
Fatal North Philly shooting death of Raheem Jefferson – Obituary Raheem Jefferson, a 43-year-old resident of Philadelphia, was tragically killed in a targeted shooting at a North Philadelphia mosque parking lot on Tuesday, according to Chief Inspector Scott Small of the Philadelphia Police Department. The incident unfolded around 5 p.m. on the 1500 block of…
Fatal North Philly shooting death of Raheem Jefferson – Obituary Raheem Jefferson, a 43-year-old resident of Philadelphia, was tragically killed in a targeted shooting at a North Philadelphia mosque parking lot on Tuesday, according to Chief Inspector Scott Small of the Philadelphia Police Department. The incident unfolded around 5 p.m. on the 1500 block of…