PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — A 16-year-old boy has been charged in connection with multiple fatal shootings, including one that killed rapper Abdul Vicks, the leader of the Young Bag Chasers street gang, last month.
Aidan Waters, 16, was charged with two counts of murder, six counts of attempted murder, eight counts of aggravated assault, nine counts of weapons possession and related charges for his alleged role in three shootings in August, Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner announced Friday.
Krasner, joined by members of the District Attorney’s Office’s Homicide and Nonfatal Shootings Unit and Gun Violence Task Force, detailed how investigators had pieced together Waters’ alleged criminal trails throughout August.
According to Krasner, Waters is a member of the street gang Fastbreak.
On Sunday, Aug. 18, Waters and another person were in a stolen Hyundai Sonata, officials said, when they began shooting at a 43-year-old man and a 14-year-old boy near the 500 block of Sentner Street in Crescentville. Investigators obtained surveillance footage that captured the Hyundai involved on camera and found multiple rounds of fire at the scene.
The next morning at approximately 2:30 a.m., Waters was involved in a double shooting at the 200 block of East Duncannon Avenue in Olney Officials said 16-year-old Marquise Sanders was killed and five others were injured.
Investigators said they found the same Hyundai and found more shell casings. Officials said the Hyundai was set on fire later that morning.
Just four days later, Vicks, 25, was shot to death in a car on the 100 block of West Olney Avenue. Philadelphia Fire Department officers responded to a car fire later that afternoon and found a stolen Kia Sportage on fire near the 6500 block of North 15th Street in Nicetown.
According to Krasner, investigators were notified and multiple DNA samples, fingerprints and casings were found in the car.
After police obtained a search warrant for Waters’ home, they found several firearms and related equipment.
Investigators said they were able to link Waters to the shooting through forensic evidence, surveillance video and witness statements.
Krasner on Friday praised the PPD’s investigation and cooperation with the Gun Violence Task Force.
“I also urge parents across the city to check their children’s bedrooms, book bags and other places,” Krasner said in a press release. “Help us get guns off the streets and out of our children’s lives. We must all work together to ensure our youth do not go down the wrong path.”
