5th suspect arrested in deadly 2022 shooting near Roxborough High School

Dayron Burney-Thorn was taken into custody in Philadelphia's Germantown section by police and the U.S. Marshals.

By6abc Digital Staff WPVI logo

Monday, October 23, 2023

$50K reward offered for suspect in shooting near Roxborough High

Authorities say $50,000 is being offered for information that leads to the arrest of 17-year-old Dayron Burney-Thorn.

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Authorities have arrested the fifth and final suspect who was wanted for gunning down a 14-year-old football player outside Roxborough High School in September 2022.

Dayron Burney-Thorn, 17, was taken into custody Monday afternoon in Philadelphia's Germantown section by police and the U.S. Marshals.

Thorn was one of five people who authorities say ambushed 14-year-old Nicolas Elizalde near Roxborough High School on Sept. 27, 2022. The other four suspects have been arrested.

He was also wanted for a separate homicide on Sept. 26, 2022, in the 600 block of N. 13th Street.

Authorities said when officers entered the apartment on the 200 block of West Walnut Lane to apprehend Burney-Thorn, he jumped out the fourth-floor window.

He was successfully taken into custody after a struggle with officers and was taken to an area hospital for medical treatment.

"Our thoughts remain with Meredith Elizalde, who lost her only son Nicholas in this tragic murder, and hope this last arrest can bring some closure to Nicolas' classmates and teammates at Roxborough High School," said Eric Gartner, United States Marshal for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

The 2022 shooting happened on the 4700 block of Pechin Street just as a junior varsity football scrimmage ended between three schools: Roxborough High School, Northeast High School and Boys Latin Charter School.

Elizalde, of Havertown, Pa., was shot and died from his injuries. He was a freshman at Saul High School but played football for Roxborough.