PHILADELPHIA (March 10, 2025) — Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner and members of the Gun Violence Task Force (GVTF) on Monday announced the conviction and sentencing of three members of the Big Naddy Gang (BNG) street group—Dontae Sutton (DOB 12/17/03), Jamir Brunson-Gans (DOB 12/18/02), and Elijah Soto (DOB 10/07/04)—for their roles in the murders of three people and the non-fatal shootings of others in September 2021.
On the evening of September 29, 2021, the defendants followed three women as they left the 7th Star Lounge following a birthday celebration. They subsequently opened fire 49 times on the vehicle’s occupants, killing Chaundrah Jones, a mother of two, and wounding two other women in the attack that occurred at 33rd and Diamond near the city’s Strawberry Mansion section. The defendants realized the next day that they had opened fire on the wrong individuals.
Investigators later determined that Sutton, Brunson-Gans, and Soto were hired by Jahlil Williams, the leader of another street group known as Omerta, to conduct the attack for $10,000. Williams was subsequently indicted federally for RICO, homicide, and related charges.
Sutton, Brunson-Gans, and Soto also committed the murder of Jordan Murray on September 6, 2021. Murray was shot nine times on the 2200 block of West Huntingdon over what investigators determined was a dispute on Instagram. Sutton and Soto were also implicated in the murder of Jerrick Jenkins, which occurred on September 18, 2021, on the 2900 block of West York Street.
The three defendants were convicted and sentenced as follows in February:
Dontae Sutton pleaded guilty to three counts of Third Degree Murder, five counts of Aggravated Assault, two counts of Robbery, Conspiracy, and related firearm violations. He was sentenced to 40 to 80 years in state prison by the Hon. Charles Ehrlich.
Elijah Soto pleaded guilty to three counts of Third Degree Murder, two counts of Aggravated Assault, Conspiracy, and related firearm violations. He was sentenced to 30 to 60 years in state prison by the Hon. Charles Ehrlich.
Jamir Brunson-Gans pleaded guilty to two counts of Third Degree Murder, three counts of Aggravated Assault, Conspiracy, and related firearm violations. He was sentenced to 35 to 70 years in state prison by the Hon. Charles Ehrlich.
“Thanks to Assistant District Attorney Joe Lanuti of the Gun Violence Task Force for his skillful prosecution of this case,” said DA Krasner. “These young men have been held accountable for taking the life of a completely innocent woman and mother of two and for terrorizing a community with their wonton disregard for public safety. I also want to thank our partners at the Philadelphia Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) for bringing these men to justice for their horrific crimes.”
“I want to thank Detective Timothy Hartman, who is assigned to the GVTF from the ATF, for his invaluable work on this case,” said Assistant District Attorney Lanuti. “I also commend the fantastic work done by GVTF Analyst Paul Haggerty for poring over mountains of digital evidence, as well as the Homicide Detectives from the Philadelphia Police Department’s Shooting Investigation Group and the U.S. Marshals Office for their assistance with these cases.”
CONTACT:
Dustin Slaughter, [email protected]
The material below is provided by the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office for use by members of the news media.
