PHILADELPHIA (March 27, 2023) — District Attorney Larry Krasner and members of the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office Homicide and Non-Fatal Shooting Unit today announced the conviction and sentencing of Quashaad James (DOB 9/16/1995) of Levittown, PA, for the shooting and wounding of a paramour’s ex-boyfriend and another individual in December 2020. James was found guilty after a waiver trial of all charges, including Attempted Murder, Aggravated Assault, Possession of an Instrument of Crime, and related illegal firearm violations. He was sentenced by the Hon. Roxanne Covington on March 16 to 20-40 years of state incarceration.On the night of December 13, 2020, one of the complainants encountered his ex-girlfriend on the 3700 block of N. Marshall Street. He offered to give the second complainant, a male friend, and the ex-girlfriend, a ride home in his vehicle. As the three individuals neared the car, defendant Quashaad James — who had followed the woman to that location that evening — approached them and confronted the woman. A verbal altercation ensued, during which time the defendant flew into a rage over the fact that the woman was getting into a car with her ex-boyfriend.The first complainant proceeded to disengage from the argument occurring between the defendant and woman. James produced a firearm from his pocket and shot the complainant three times in the back. The defendant then opened fire on the second complainant, wounding him in the leg. The first complainant collapsed and remained on the street while the woman stayed with him until first responders arrived. The second complainant attempted to flee but also collapsed to the ground. The crime gun was never recovered.
The woman later gave a statement to police identifying James as the perpetrator. All three witnesses, in addition to the first complainant’s mother, testified in court. Assistant District Attorney Angela Brennan used their testimony to help secure the defendant’s conviction during the December 2022 waiver trial.“I’m grateful to Assistant District Attorney Brennan for this successful prosecution,” said DA Krasner. “Sadly, in a society where it’s far too easy to obtain firearms, unchecked anger and other raw emotions can lead to serious injury, and even death. The time for lawmakers at the state and federal level to enact commonsense measures that would make it harder to acquire handguns and other lethal weaponry is long overdue.”“It is an honor to have served the survivors in this case,” said ADA Brennan. “I’m also glad that the judge made the correct decision to hold this very dangerous defendant accountable and to remove him from the community for a lengthy period of time. Our city is safer today because of this conviction and sentencing.”
“To victims and survivors of crime, don’t give up and don’t give in to fear,” said Rosa Torlak, the mother of the first complainant. “I’m grateful to the police, paramedics, and doctors who saved my son’s life. And I’m also grateful to the District Attorney’s Office for achieving justice in this case.”
CONTACT:Dustin Slaughter, 215-686-8713, [email protected]
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The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office is the largest prosecutor’s office in Pennsylvania, and one of the largest in the nation. It serves the more than 1.5 million residents of the City and County of Philadelphia, employing 600 lawyers, detectives, and support staff. The District Attorney’s Office is responsible for the prosecution of approximately 40,000 criminal cases annually. Learn more about the DAO by visiting PhillyDA.org.