8 arrested in South, Northwest Philly gang-related shootings

TOP (L-R): Montez Burke, Mujihud Deen, Alexis Hodge, Galvison Morris. BOTTOM (L-R): Markesha Washington, Nasir Evans, Khalid Harrison, Nyseem Smith
Photo credit Courtesy of Philadelphia Police Department
PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Officials for both Philadelphia and Pennsylvania announced the arrest of eight people who are allegedly connected to a surge of gun violence in South and Northwest Philadelphia, according to a year-long investigation and a grand jury report. 

The charges range from murder to conspiracy to possession of a weapon, after authorities tracked two gangs in and around South and Northwest Philadelphia named after the vicinity for which they lived: the 27th and the 31st.  

State Attorney General Josh Shapiro said in just a year, the groups were responsible for several murders. 

"The violence between these groups accounted for 43 shooting incidents, 35 people were shot and injured, including a 12-year-old boy and 59-year-old woman. Three people were killed," Shapiro said. 

He says state and city officers used gun-tracing technology and undercover cops, and dug deep into social media posts to uncover and identify who was responsible for the acts. They also seized several guns.  

"We expect that these weapons have been used in other crimes and law enforcement is going through the tracing process to determine those facts," Shapiro said.  

The rivals, Shapiro said, were "fueled by petty slights, posts on social media and generational grudges."

One of the arrests was in connection to the murder of 17-year-old Nasir Livingston outside a Chinese food restaurant in December 2017. 

"Shot once in the head at point blank range, brazenly in front of multiple witnesses, including several children," Shapiro said. 

It was followed, he said, by a retaliatory shooting of two rival gang members in Northwest Philadelphia.   

"Arrested in connection with Nasir Livingston’s murder and connected to the 31st street group are the following: Khalid Harrison and Mujihad Deen," Shapiro said. 

Both the police commissioner and District Attorney Larry Krasner said the investigation is not over. 

"We will do everything in our power, including using new technology, using techniques to solve shootings when they occur and to solve shootings and killings that have occurred in the past," said Krasner. 

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The following is the complete list of the suspects and their charges: 

Arrested in connection with the Dec. 19, 2017 homicide are 22-year-old Khalid Harrison and 20-year-old Mujihad Deen.

Arrested in connection with the Dec. 27, 2017 shooting are 22-year-old Markesha Hines-Washington, 20-year-old Nasir Evans, 22-year-old Montez Burke, 21-year-old Alexis Hodge and 21-year-old Galvison Morris.

Arrested on charges as a member of the 31st is 21-year-old Nyseem Smith.