PHILADELPHIA — Twelve individuals have been charged in connection with a series of violent crimes, including the killing of a juvenile, 12 non-fatal shootings, two gunpoint carjackings, and an auto theft in South Philadelphia. The charges were announced Friday by Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner and Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel following an extensive grand jury investigation.
Authorities said the crimes took place between April 2021 and May 2023. The suspects, many of whom are affiliated with active street groups, were identified through ballistic evidence, cellular data, and witness statements. Eleven of the 12 defendants are currently in custody on high bail.
Taahir Rowe, 20, is charged with murder, conspiracy, and multiple weapons offenses for the January 22, 2022, ambush killing of a juvenile on the 800 block of June Street.
Eli Simmons, 19, faces multiple counts of attempted murder, conspiracy, and firearms violations for his alleged role in numerous shootings across Philadelphia, including incidents that left 16 victims injured. He is also charged in two armed carjackings.
Elante Outerbridge, 17, is charged with nine counts of attempted murder and related offenses for shootings on November 8, 2022, and February 2, 2023, which injured five juveniles, a mother, and a two-year-old child.
Carl Jarrett, 21, is accused of multiple shootings that injured seven victims, while Ivan Williams, 21, faces charges for a carjacking on January 30, 2022.
Other defendants include Jayvonne Solomon, 16, charged with attempted murder for an April 2023 shooting that wounded two people, and Atum El, 19, accused of injuring three victims in another shooting.
The investigation remains ongoing. “This is a prime example of what modern law enforcement techniques can accomplish,” Krasner said. “Taking the relatively small number of individuals who commit an outsized amount of gun violence off of the streets so that our neighborhoods can be safer.”
