A sixth suspect has been charged in connection with the 2022 shooting outside Roxborough High School that killed 14-year-old Nicolas Elizalde and wounded four other teenagers, authorities said Friday.
Several gunmen hopped out of a car and fired more than 60 bullets at a group of youth who were leaving an afternoon high school football scrimmage Sept. 27. Elizalde, who police have said was not the target of the attack, was struck in the chest and died from his injuries.
Charges were filed Friday against 20-year-old Zaakir McClendon, of Wissinoming. He is facing one count of murder, four counts of attempted murder and a host of other crimes.
McClendon has been in custody since July 9, when he was apprehended and charged for his alleged role in the April 2023 fatal shooting of 16-year-old Nafis Bertrand-Hill in North Philadelphia.
Police said DNA evidence collected from fired cartridge casings recovered at the scene of the Roxborough shooting was put into a database, and a hit was detected in May when McClendon was arrested for an unrelated matter.
Detectives received a warrant to get another DNA sample, which confirmed the match, investigators said. Authorities also pulled cellphone records that show McClendon was in contact with two of the other suspects at the time of the shooting, officials said.
Zyheid Jones, 20, was sentenced in December to 30 to 60 years in prison after pleading guilty to participating in the killing, along with the murder of 19-year-old Tahmir Jones a day before the scrimmage.
In February, a judge sentenced Troy Fletcher, 18, to a term of 25 to 50 years of state incarceration, according to court records.
The three other suspects – Yaaseen Bivins, 24, Dayron Burney-Thorn, 19, and Saleem Miller, 19 – are scheduled to go on trial in late October.
“This arrest marks another step forward in the pursuit of justice for Nicolas Elizalde, his family, and the other victims,” a PPD spokesperson said in an Aug. 15 statement. “The Philadelphia Police Department remains committed to holding all those responsible accountable for their actions.”
Counseling, peer support, and victim advocacy services are available for victims, family members, and others affected by gun violence. Go to metrophiladelphia.com/gun-violence-resources for more information.
