Six-year-old murder case ends with sweeping conviction while another person remains unidentified
PHILADELPHIA, PA – A Philadelphia man will spend life in prison after a jury convicted him in a 2020 Overbrook ambush that killed Aamir Johnson Daye, wounded another man and sent a bullet tearing through a home where children and other residents were inside.
Donovan K. Williams was convicted of first-degree murder and other offenses stemming from the July 5, 2020, double shooting, the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office announced Tuesday.
Judge Giovanni Campbell sentenced Williams to life in prison plus a consecutive 46 to 92 years.
Deadly pursuit unfolds in Overbrook
The violence unfolded during the evening in the 1400 block of North 61st Street.
Philadelphia officers found Daye suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was taken to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, where he died.
Another man was injured in the shooting.
Investigators also discovered that gunfire struck a residence on the block. One projectile traveled through a front window, crossed the living room and lodged in a wall while several residents, including children, were inside, according to prosecutors.
Surveillance video captured pursuit
Surveillance footage showed a dark-colored vehicle with tinted windows traveling north on North 61st Street earlier that evening, prosecutors said.
The vehicle stopped and its lights were turned off. Daye and another man later walked past it.
According to prosecutors, three men exited the vehicle and pursued Daye before returning to the vehicle and continuing to follow him toward the location where he was eventually found shot.
Following the gunfire, three men were recorded running north toward Media Street while holding their waistband or pocket areas.
Prosecutors said Williams was driving the vehicle and was captured firing a gun in Daye’s direction. The investigation subsequently connected Williams to the handgun used in the killing.
Jury delivers murder conviction
Williams was convicted of murder, attempted murder, criminal conspiracy, aggravated assault, a firearms offense, possessing an instrument of crime and six counts of recklessly endangering another person.
Co-defendant Bahij Dini previously pleaded guilty to third-degree murder, conspiracy and related offenses. He received a sentence of 13½ to 42 years.
Another person remains unidentified
The case is not entirely closed.
The District Attorney’s Office said at least one other person involved in the crime has not been identified and is asking the public for information.
Anyone with information about the case is asked to call 911.
The convictions followed six years of investigative and prosecutorial work stemming from the Overbrook shooting.
Key Points
- Donovan K. Williams was convicted of first-degree murder and other offenses in the July 2020 killing of Aamir Johnson Daye in Overbrook.
- Williams received life in prison plus a consecutive sentence of 46 to 92 years.
- Prosecutors said at least one other person involved remains unidentified and are seeking information from the public.
