For the second time in three weeks, the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office said it had made sweeping arrests connected to shootings, carjackings and a homicide dating back to 2022.
"It's gonna make it easier for kids to play in the street, and grandparents to sit on their porches," District Attorney Larry Krasner said.
Authorities said many of the crimes occurred in South Philadelphia and involved four feuding gangs. In the latest action, 21 people were charged in connection with multiple shootings, carjackings and one homicide.
Police said many of the suspects were already in custody after being indicted last year.
"The continued investigations of those initial shootings, which were committed in back-and-forth retaliation, revealed other targeted shootings," said Adam Farraye, an assistant district attorney.
Investigators said they made two arrests connected to the murder of Aquill Foster on the 600 block of Ritner Street in June 2022.
Arrests were also announced in connection with a triple shooting on South 22nd Street in April 2023, as well as another triple shooting a month later on the 600 block of Oregon Avenue, where a couple was caught in the crossfire.
"I hope those who picked up the guns and committed these crimes enjoy their days in custody because they'll be there for a while," said William Fritze of the district attorney's office gun violence task force.
The shootings occurred during a period when homicides and violent crime had reached record highs. Officials said the city is now seeing a record drop, with 20 homicides recorded so far this year - the lowest number to date in decades, something the district attorney called jaw-dropping.
"I hear people who live in other places who say our crimes don't get solved. Well, they're getting solved here," Krasner said.
Authorities said several other people connected to the cases remain on the run.
The Philadelphia DA's office identified the following 21 defendants and the charges they're facing:
Maliek Robbins
Aggravated Assault
Robbery
Conspiracy
Jayme Drayton
Murder
Marquan Flamer
Murder
Baahij Arthur
Attempted Murder
Atum El
Attempted Murder
Emmitt Hardee
Conspiracy to Commit Attempted Murder
Damar Holmes
Aggravated Assault
Rahmel Humphrey
Attempted Murder
Carl Jarett
Attempted Murder
Robbery
Theft by Unlawful Taking
Quadir Spady
Attempted Murder
Aggravated Assault
Elante Outerbridge
Attempted Murder
Robbery
Eli Simmons
Attempted Murder
Aggravated Assault
Robbery
Malik Sweets
Attempted Murder
Ivan Williams
Attempted Murder
Javon Fisher
Attempted Murder
Aggravated Assault
Robbery
Baseer Johnson
Attempted Murder
Robbery
Aggravated Assault
Aliaan Harris
Attempted Murder
Taaj Lennon
Aggravated Assault
Bryant Cumberbatch
Attempted Murder
Aggravated Assault
Samerah Pendleton
Conspiracy to Commit Attempted Murder