Mother pleads for justice after teen son fatally shot in North Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- A mother is pleading for justice nearly one year after her 16-year-old son was shot and killed in North Philadelphia.

Now, police need your help to find his killer.

"He was lovable, funny, outgoing," says Tamika Ellis.

Ellis is still trying to come to terms with the loss of her young son.

Zaahir Ellis was 16-years-old when he was shot and killed on the 1700 block of West Huntingdon Street in North Philadelphia on August 1, 2025.

"Two boys came to my house and got my son, I saw it on my ring camera," says Ellis.

Zaahir's mom says that her home surveillance camera on her front door shows that Zaahir left with two boys around 1:30 in the morning.

Fifteen minutes later, he was shot and killed just blocks away.

"Turn yourself in, I don't know what happened, I don't know nothing. I just want you to turn yourself in. My son needs justice. This is hard for his sister, me and his family," says Ellis.

There is a $20,000 dollar reward for information that leads to an arrest and conviction in this case.

If you have any information, you're urged to call 215-546-TIPS.

All calls will remain anonymous.