Pennsylvania authorities are on the hunt for a 16-year Oldboy wanted in connection to the murder of a teen leaving his high school football practice last week.
According to a Philadelphia Police Department news release, Dayron Burney-Thorne, 16, has been named a suspect in the Sept. 27 shooting that left 14-year-old Nicolas Elizalde dead and four others injured outside their Philadelphia high school.
Burney-Thorne has warrants out for his arrest for murder, multiple counts of attempted murder, theft, obstructing justice, tampering with evidence, and criminal conspiracy.
PPD Homicide Capt. Jason Smith said, “Detectives are searching for seven other persons of interest in the case. This was definitely a well-orchestrated shooting. These individuals were being very careful to not leave identifiers behind.”
Smith did not specify if Burney-Thorne was one of the gunmen who ambushed the group of teens outside of Roxborough High School or a getaway driver.
However, police did reveal that a second vehicle used in the crime has been recovered.
Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw said, “The individuals involved are just delaying the inevitable. There’s an entire generation of children who believe the only way to settle a score is by bringing a gun into the equation. And what these kids don’t realize, unfortunately, is that some of the solutions they’re coming up with, they’re final. This is the end for them. There’s no going back.”
A motive is still under investigation.
The city of Philadelphia is offering a $45,000 reward leading to an arrest and conviction in the case.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the homicide unit at (215) 686-3334.
