At a Glance
- Four men must stand trial for the July 5 Grays Ferry shooting that left three dead and ten wounded.
- Surveillance video and ballistic evidence link the suspects to the chaotic block-party gunfire.
- The judge dismissed conspiracy and attempted-murder counts, keeping third-degree murder and assault charges.
- Why it matters: The ruling advances the city’s largest mass-shooting case in years, with two additional suspects still awaiting hearings.
A Philadelphia judge on Thursday ruled that four men face trial for the deadly mass shooting that erupted last summer on the 1500 block of South Etting Street, ending a preliminary hearing that detailed how a weekend cookout turned into a killing field.
Evidence Presented in Court
Prosecutors relied heavily on surveillance footage to connect Dieve Drumgoole and 17-year-old Brandon Fisher to the gunfire that rang out around 1 a.m. on July 7. A Commonwealth expert walked the court through multiple angles showing up to 15 shooters. The only firearm recovered that matched on-scene ballistic evidence belonged to 21-year-old Daquan Brown, investigators said.
A fourth suspect, 22-year-old Terrell Frazier, appeared on Instagram Live minutes before the first shot. In the video he reads an incoming message-“We’re gonna come around the block and shoot it up”-and allegedly replies, “Come around.”
Key evidence summarized:
- More than 140 ballistic pieces collected
- 13 separate guns identified through forensic testing
- One handgun recovered from Brown linking him to the scene
- Social-media clip placing Frazier at the location moments before violence
Defense Arguments
Lawyers for Frazier and Fisher told the court the Commonwealth failed to prove their clients fired weapons. Attorneys for Drumgoole and Brown countered that their clients possessed valid gun permits and shot in self-defense after someone mistook a car backfire for gunshots, sparking panic.
Charges Narrowed
The judge held all four for trial on:
- Third-degree murder
- Aggravated assault
- Recklessly endangering another person
The court dismissed conspiracy and attempted-murder counts, citing insufficient evidence at this stage.
Victims’ Families React
Outside the courthouse, Debra Richardson, mother of 24-year-old Azir Harris, said she visits her son’s grave every weekend. Harris, who used a wheelchair, had simply dropped off friends at the cookout. “It was painful seeing my baby helpless,” Richardson told News Of Philadelphia. “I didn’t expect that my baby would never come back home to me.”
The shooting also claimed the lives of 23-year-old Zahir Wylie and 19-year-old Jason Rese. Nine additional bystanders-ages 15 to 24-suffered gunshot wounds; a tenth person was injured fleeing the chaos.
What Happens Next
Two more men face related charges; their preliminary hearings are scheduled for a later date. Thursday’s ruling means the four defendants proceed toward a formal arraignment while the district attorney’s office continues building its case.
