PHILADELPHIA (June 1, 2026) — Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner and the DAO’s Gun Violence Task Force (GVTF) announced charges on Monday against Defendants Ibyn Freeman, Ismail Freeman, Kamal Burke, and Atum El for their roles in street group-related violence, including the fatal shooting of 16-year-old Jaseem Thomas, which occurred in Southwest Philadelphia in April 2023. The defendants were also charged with a subsequent robbery and are affiliated with local street group “Close Range Gang” or CRG.
The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office is charging Defendants Ibyn Freeman (DOB: 01/14/2008), Ismail Freeman (DOB: 02/06/2007), Kamal Burke (DOB: 12/15/2006), and Atum El (DOB: 07/30/2005) with the following charges:
Defendant Ibyn Freeman:
- Murder (F1)
- Criminal Conspiracy (F1)
- Robbery (F1)
- Criminal Conspiracy (F1)
- Violation of the Uniform Firearms Act – No License (F3)
- Violation of the Uniform Firearms Act – Possession by Minor (M1)
- Possessing Instrument of Crime (M1)
- Theft – Unlawful Taking – (M1)
- Theft – Receiving Stolen Property (M1)
- Possessing Instrument of Crime (M1)
- Terroristic Threats (M1)
- Recklessly Endangering Another Person (M2)
- Simple Assault (M2)
- Recklessly Endangering Another Person (M2)
Defendant Atum El:
- Murder (F1)
- Criminal Conspiracy (F1)
- Robbery (F1)
- Criminal Conspiracy (F1)
- Violation of the Uniform Firearms Act – No License (F3)
- 6106 VUFA – No License (F3)
- Violation of the Uniform Firearms Act – Possession by Minor (M1)
- Possessing Instrument of Crime (M1)
- Theft – Unlawful Taking – (M1)
- Theft – Receiving Stolen Property (M1)
- 6110.1 VUFA – Possession by Minor (M1)
- Possessing Instrument of Crime (M1)
- Terroristic Threats (M1)
- Recklessly Endangering Another Person (M2)
- Recklessly Endangering Another Person (M2)
- Simple Assault (M2)
Defendant Ismail Freeman:
- Robbery (F1)
- Criminal Conspiracy (F1)
- Theft – Unlawful Taking – (M1)
- Theft – Receiving Stolen Property (M1)
- Possessing Instrument of Crime (M1)
- Terroristic Threats (M1)
- Recklessly Endangering Another Person (M2)
- Simple Assault (M2)
- Criminal Use of Communication Facility – (F2)
Defendant Kamal Burke:
- Robbery ( F1)
- Criminal Conspiracy (F1)
- VUFA – No License (F3)
- Theft – Unlawful Taking – (M1)
- Theft – Receiving Stolen Property (M1)
- VUFA – Possession by Minor (M1)
- Possessing Instrument of Crime (M1)
- Terroristic Threats (M1)
- Recklessly Endangering Another Person (M2)
- Simple Assault (M2)
On April 27, 2023, at 6:30 p.m., Philadelphia Police were called to reports of a shooting along the 2200 block of South 67th Street in Southwest Philadelphia. When they arrived, they found 16-year-old Jaseem Thomas suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Officers rushed Thomas to Penn Presbyterian Hospital, where he died days later.
The arrests arise from the Gun Violence Task Force’s continued grand jury investigation into street group activity in South Philadelphia. The investigation found that the four defendants were inside a vehicle and saw Thomas walking on the sidewalk before Ibyn Freeman got out and opened fire.
Defendants Kamal Burke and Atum El were previously held in custody for other offenses; Defendants Ibyn Freeman and Ismail Freeman were arrested on the morning of Friday, May 29th.
“June marks National Gun Violence Awareness Month when we acknowledge the pain many families have endured over the years due to senseless gun violence. While homicides and other violent crimes have declined notably, that reality does not diminish the tragedy of a life lost,” said District Attorney Larry Krasner. “We are proud to announce these arrests today as part of our continued efforts to make our communities safer and eliminate gun violence in Philadelphia. The steady reduction in gun violence is due, in part, to the collaborative efforts of the Gun Violence Task Force and our law enforcement partners.”
“We expect these indictments to continue to roll out with additional arrests of members of the Close Range Gang and their affiliates as more cases are comprehensively investigated,” said Assistant District Attorney Adam Farraye of the DAO’s Gun Violence Task Force. “We will continue to prosecute those cases and others so that these individuals are held accountable for the crimes they’ve committed. Thank you to Philadelphia Police Detective Kelley Gallagher, Detective Patrick Cavalieri, Detective Francis Graf, Law Enforcement Analyst Rashaan Simmons, and our law enforcement partners for their exceptional work on this case.”
Preliminary research from the University of Pennsylvania found that in the six years following the Task Force’s arrests of street group members in 2019, overall violent crime in the immediate area declined by 48 percent, while gun violence dropped by 43 percent and shooting victims by 34 percent. The study also found that violence did not shift to adjacent neighborhoods.
“We’d also like to thank the researchers the University of Pennsylvania for their exceptional work analyzing a series of special grand jury investigations through GVTF between 2018 and 2021,” said Assistant District Attorney Bill Fritze, Supervisor, Gun Violence Task Force. “This research shows significant decreases in crime due in part to those willing to come forward and share what they know. To members of the Close Range Gang and other street groups: If you choose to pick up a gun this summer, know that we will find you and hold you accountable for your violent actions
CONTACT:
Marisa Palmer, [email protected]