PHILADELPHIA (December 11, 2025)— Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office, DAO’s Gun Violence Task Force announced charges on Thursday against Tayvine Jones, who was involved in three separate violent street group-related homicide shootings that occurred in August 2020, May 2022 and September 2022.
Tayvine Jones (DOB 10/17/00) was charged with three counts of each for the following shooting homicides:
1st Degree Murder
Criminal Conspiracy
Aggravated Assault (F1)
Simple Assault (M2)
Recklessly Endangering Another Person (M2)
Possessing an Instrument of Crime (M1)
Violation of the Uniform Firearms Act (F3, M1)
Jones is also charged with one count of Intimidation of a Witness or Victims (F1) for the Homicide that occurred on May 25, 2022 at 1600 West Erie Avenue.
Since April 2025, the DAO Gun Violence Task Force, the Attorney General’s Office, and the US Marshals have opened an investigation into Tayvine Jones, also known as BlumbergEerd or Rookie of the Year (ROY). Jones is a rapper and alleged shooter for the group known as Blumberg/Black Flag and is well known within the drill rap community for being one of Black Flag’s central figures. Jones is connected to three separate shooting homicides that occurred in and around Philadelphia’s North and Northeast section of Philadelphia.
The first of these connected shootings occurred on August 23, 2020, at 2215 West Diamond Street, where Heyward Garrison, who was sixteen-years-old at the time of the shooting, was fatally shot. The second shooting occurred on May 25, 2022, at 1600 West Erie Avenue, where a victim, known as Wesley Rodwell, was fatally shot multiple times. The victim recently posted a music video taunting Black Flag/Blumberg, which investigators suggest led to the shooting. The Co-Defendants in this case include are Dymer Purnell and Deshawn Kinsler. Both are in custody and awaiting trial. The third of these shootings occurred on September 26, 2022, at 1600 Creston Street. The victim in this incident was fatally shot multiple times. The Co-Defendant in this case is Michael Nelson who is also in custody and awaiting trial.
The defendant in these shootings, Jones, has been a fugitive since April of 2024. Jones had been employing methods to evade law enforcement, including using the resources of his group to continuously change locations within Philadelphia and nearby counties, changing his digital profile to evade detection, moving only at night, and always wearing a mask.
The 32nd Investigating Grand Jury found that Jones was a member of Black Flags and recommended the charges for three separate homicides. Two of the homicides were gang related with the opposing group Zoo Gang.
“Thank you to ADA Alyssa Amoroso, who worked on the Grand Jury Investigation, and GVTF Analyst Paul Haggerty for his diligent digital forensic work,” said GVTF Assistant District Attorney Joe Lanuti. “It is through their diligent work, and the dedication of our partners at the Attorney General’s Office, especially Agent Joe Cockerill and Agent Mike Guillaume, that helped to locate Tayvine Jones. I’d also like to thank our US Marshal partners for lending their personnel and resources.”
“I commend ADA Joe Lanuti for his prosecutorial and fugitive apprehension efforts,” said ADA Bill Fritze, Supervisor of the Gun Violence Taskforce. “Thank you also to the Philadelphia Police Department and the investigative branch of the 32nd Grand Jury that held Tayvine Jones accountable for his heinous crimes.”
Victim Advocates within the DAO’s External Engagement & Government Affairs Division also discussed a new DAO project, Hope for the Holidays, that focuses on bringing extra critical support services to Homicide co-survivors experiencing grief during the holiday season.
“The holiday season can be a trying time for those who are survivors and co-survivors of gun violence,” said Tracee Washington, Assistant Director of Support Services for the DAO’s Victim Services Unit. “The DAO is offering specialize services to ensure families don’t feel alone during this holiday season. We meet families in their home to provide a space for healing conversation. In that way, Holiday for Hope is more than an initiative. It is our promise that no family walks this journey alone.”