On Easter Sunday, April 1, 2018, 16-year-old William Bethel was shot during a confrontation between two groups of teenagers on the 800 block of South Street in Philadelphia. A sophomore and honor student at Boys’ Latin of Philadelphia Charter School, Bethel was a scholar-athlete who boxed and played football and basketball. He was with his cousin and two friends when words were exchanged, reportedly over a young woman.

Eighteen-year-old Zahmir White, known as Pikachu, opened fire during the argument. As Bethel and a friend tried to run, White fired four shots; one struck Bethel in the lower back. Bethel was taken to Thomas Jefferson University Hospital with a gunshot wound to his pelvis and died two days later. Police arrested White on May 23, 2018, and charged him with murder and gun offenses.

At trial in April 2019 White admitted firing the gun but said he acted in self-defense, fearing someone had a weapon. The jury acquitted him of murder but convicted him of voluntary manslaughter, attempted murder of Christopher Elliott, aggravated assault, and weapons charges. In June 2019 a judge sentenced him to 25 to 50 years in state prison. Anyone who knew William or has information about the case is asked to come forward.