Akil Jones, a 33-year-old Black man, was remembered by a former neighbor as one of six helpful brothers who once built a doghouse for her family’s husky. In the early morning hours of July 21, 2024, Akil was at a summer block party in Philadelphia’s Carroll Park neighborhood when the gathering of more than 100 people was shattered by gunfire.
The violence erupted around 2 a.m. on the 1200 block of North Alden Street. Surveillance video later showed that an argument between Akil Jones and another man, Tahir Shoatz, turned into a physical fight. When Shoatz reached for a gun in his waistband, Akil’s brother, Amir Jones, came to his aid. Shoatz fired the first shot, and the confrontation exploded into a chaotic gun battle, with investigators determining that at least six different firearms were discharged.
When the shooting stopped, officers found Akil Jones lying in the street, dead from a gunshot wound to his torso.
The shootout claimed two other lives: Akil’s 29-year-old brother, Rashie Jones, and their 23-year-old friend, Sakayi Robinson. Six other people, ranging in age from 26 to 30, were wounded but survived.
The investigation quickly identified two suspects among the wounded: 28-year-old Tahir Shoatz and Akil's 30-year-old brother, Amir Jones. Shoatz was arrested and charged with three counts of homicide and multiple counts of aggravated assault. Amir Jones, however, disappeared and remained a fugitive for over a year. On July 31, 2025, U.S. Marshals located him at a home in the city’s Parkside section, where he surrendered after a brief negotiation. He was also charged with three counts of murder for the deaths of his two brothers and their friend.
In September 2026, Tahir Shoatz faced a bench trial. A judge convicted him of third-degree murder for the death of Sakayi Robinson and of the attempted murder of Amir Jones. However, the judge acquitted Shoatz of murdering Akil and Rashie Jones, concluding he had not fired the shots that killed them.
The following month, as Amir Jones’s trial was set to begin, prosecutors dropped all murder and aggravated assault charges against him, stating that he had acted in defense of his brothers. A judge then acquitted him of all remaining charges.
As of October 2026, while one man has been convicted for his role in the deadly shootout, the person or people responsible for the murders of Akil Jones and his brother Rashie Jones have not been held accountable. Their deaths remain unsolved. Anyone with information is asked to call or text the Philadelphia Police Department at 215-686-8477.
