Man convicted of murder in West Philadelphia shooting that left three dead, injured several others
Tahir Shoatz, 30, was convicted of third-degree murder, but acquitted of several other offenses in a mass shooting at a block party on North Alden Street.
A man who fired shots during a gun battle in West Philadelphia that left three men dead and wounded several others two years ago was convicted of murder this week.
Tahir Shoatz, 30, was found guilty of third-degree murder in the death of Sekayi Robinson, 23, as well as attempted murder, aggravated assault, simple assault, four counts of reckless endangerment, and three firearms offenses, following a bench trial in Common Pleas Court.
But Judge Roxanne Covington on Thursday acquitted Shoatz of murder in the deaths of brothers Akil Jones, 33, and Rashie Jones, 29, concluding that he did not fire the shots that killed them on July 21, 2024.
That night, gunfire shattered a block party on the 1200 block of North Alden Street, where more than 100 people had gathered, prosecutors said. In addition to the three killings, six people were injured by bullets — including Shoatz, who was shot in the abdomen, shoulder, and knee, and his co-defendant in the case, Amir Jones, who was struck by two bullets on his left side.
Covington also acquitted Shoatz of 15 other charges, including attempted murder, aggravated assault, simple assault, and other offenses.
The mass shooting stemmed from an argument between Akil Jones and Shoatz that turned physical when Shoatz reached for a handgun at his waistband, Assistant District Attorney Cydney Pope said during the trial. Amir Jones — who is the brother of Akil and Rashie Jones — intervened in the fray to help his brother, Pope said, seconds before the first shot rang out.
Prosecutors initially charged Jones with three counts of murder and four counts of aggravated assault, as well as multiple counts of reckless endangerment and firearms offenses. But they dismissed the murder and aggravated assault charges against him at the start of the trial.
And on Thursday, Covington acquitted Jones of the remaining charges against him.
The prosecution’s case relied heavily on surveillance and police body-worn camera footage that captured the shooting and its aftermath. Pope said the footage showed multiple shooters, including Shoatz, Amir Jones, Robinson, and an another man. Police recovered 41 bullet casings and fragments from the scene, she said, and determined Rashie Jones had also fired a gun.
After watching the footage several times, the judge said “it is clear” that the other man — whom prosecutors said has not been identified by police — killed Akil Jones. But it was unclear who shot Rashie Jones, she said, because “that is never seen on video.”
Shoatz’s attorney, Robert Gamburg, contended that Shoatz had been disarmed by Amir Jones during the brawl, then shot multiple times. “He was a victim in this case,” Gamburg said. “He has always been a victim.”
Shoatz is scheduled to be sentenced in December.
