Latest news on the murder of Elijah Deloach – NBC10 Philadelphia

Philadelphia police filed murder charges Thursday against a man involved in the Roxborough apartment shooting that killed 18-year-old Elijah Deloach of Elkins Park, Pennsylvania.

Deloach went to the Henry on the Park apartments in the 7900 block of Henry Avenue on Tuesday, May 22, 2024, to respond to a suspected domestic assault, police said.

Ernest Ransom, a police homicide squad officer, spoke about Deloach's killing and an unrelated double attack on two women in Northeast Philadelphia at about 10:30 a.m. Ransom announced murder charges against Kione Gary.

Gary was arraigned Wednesday on murder, weapons charges, simple assault, aggravated assault and related charges and was held without bail.

Police officers found an armed 23-year-old man outside the apartments when they arrived around 10 p.m., Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small said.

The man cooperated with police, Small said.

“He was involved in a shooting in a fourth floor apartment,” Small said.

As police investigated the scene, they learned that an 18-year-old had shown up at nearby Roxborough Hospital with a gunshot wound to the chest, Small said. The young man – later identified as Deloach – died about two hours later.

“We believe the motive is a domestic dispute between the 23-year-old suspected shooter and his … girlfriend,” Small said.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233), at www.thehotline.org or by texting LOVEIS the number 22522.

The couple lives in the apartment, Small said. During the argument, the woman's family members and some friends came to intervene. Police later said two men and two women confronted the suspect.

“Then a shot was fired,” Small said.

Police found evidence that that single shot was fired in the apartment's living room, Small said.

“For some reason, the 23-year-old who we believe fired the shot jumped from the 4th floor,” Small said. “He was not injured, remained on scene and cooperated with police.”

No attorney is listed in court records to comment on Gary's behalf.

According to police, 98 homicides have been reported in Philadelphia this year through Wednesday, down about 38% from the same period last year and the lowest total since 2015.