PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Philadelphia police have arrested a person in connection with the shooting death of a Simon Gratz High School student nearly two years ago.
It was an arrest that brought relief for Gary Weedon, the father of 15-year-old Simon Gratz Mastery Charter sophomore Devin Weedon, who was gunned down during a robbery attempt as he walked to school on March 28, 2023.
“I miss my son a lot. But I got a little piece of justice,” Gary said. “One minute you’re hugging and saying you love him. The next minute, you get a phone call saying he was shot.”
At a news conference Wednesday, Deputy Police Commissioner of Investigations Frank Vanore said 20-year-old Taamir Cole was one of four people who jumped Devin on his way to school. He says Cole this year was convicted of a robbery in the same area the night before the murder.
“Based on that and other information that we’ve developed since then, we were able to put him at this case,” Vanore said.
Cole was arrested Tuesday and charged with murder and conspiracy. Vanore says police are looking for three other suspects, including the gunman. Gary said the arrest of Cole could have saved another child’s life.
"Sometimes there are people who decide they're going to settle it on the street," said Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner. "The family of this victim didn't do that. And I wanted to thank you personally for that," Krasner said to Gary.