Zayki Davis, 18, who pleaded guilty to third-degree murder, was sentenced to 10 to 40 years in prison in connection with the death of 15-year-old Zahkir Whitfield. Davis was 17 at the time of the shooting and was charged as an adult.
Family members of Whitfield attended the sentencing hearing, including his grandparents, who spoke about the impact of his death.
"He's still in my heart. He's with me everywhere I go," said Edith Overstreet, Whitfield's grandmother.
Anthony Overstreet, Whitfield's grandfather, said he was satisfied with the sentence but noted the lasting consequences for both families.
"I was satisfied with the sentence, but on the same side, both sides lost," he said.
Prosecutors showed video of the March 2025 shooting on a SEPTA bus at the intersection of 40th Street and Girard Avenue in West Philadelphia.
The victim was part of a group of teens who had gotten into a fight with Davis' group, according to the prosecution. Video shown in court depicted Davis getting off the bus, pulling out a gun, then re-boarding the bus and firing a single shot. The bullet struck Whitfield in the chest.
Whitfield was 15 years old when he was killed.
"I see my grandson every day," Anthony Overstreet said through tears. "Every time I see a kid, I see my grandson because they're trying to do something positive, and then something strikes them down."
The judge also heard statements from five people, including Whitfield's mother, who spoke about the pain of burying her son on what would have been his 16th birthday.
Davis' family members attended the hearing as well. During the proceedings, Davis expressed remorse, saying, "I'm sorry for all the pain I caused... I think about it every day."
Whitfield's family said they want people to remember him for who he was rather than the circumstances of his death, describing him as a positive teenager who loved joking around and playing basketball. His sister said that while many people know the case, their family remembers the child they lost.
"I just love him, and I miss him so much," Edith Overstreet said.
In addition to the murder sentence, Davis received an additional sentence of 2 to 5 years for reckless endangerment and was sentenced to five years of probation on a gun charge.
Whitfield's mother also delivered what was described in court as an emotional statement that included telling Davis that she forgives him.