The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office announced on Friday that charges have been filed against Aidan Waters, 16, for his role in multiple homicides and non-fatal shooting incidents that occurred in August 2024.
During the week of August 23, a search warrant was executed for a grey Hyundai Sonata, which was reported stolen in Cheltenham Township. According to officials, the vehicle was involved in a murder allegedly committed by Waters the week prior. Multiple DNA swabs were recovered from the vehicle, as well as fingerprints, two 7.62 FCCs, one 9mm FCC, and one unfired 9mm cartridge.
According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, Waters also stole a 2018 white Kia Sportage from an apartment building in Cheltenham Township nine days before the murder. Police say Waters, also known as “A-Boy,” paid another teen $100 for the stolen car.
Waters, who is a member of a street group known as Fastbreak, is charged with two counts of Murder (H1), six counts of Attempted Murder (F1), eight counts of Aggravated Assault (F1), nine counts of various firearm violations, and related charges for his involvement in the following incidents:
On the evening of August 18, the defendant and a co-conspirator opened fire from a vehicle on a 43-year-old male and a 14-year-old male near the 500 block of Sentner Street. Surveillance video obtained by investigators captured the assailants’ vehicle, a grey Hyundai Sonata. Investigators also recovered 16 7.62 fired cartridge casings (FCC), often connected with the firing of an assault rifle, and nine 9mm FCCs.
Early on the morning of August 19, the defendant was involved in a double shooting on the 200 block of East Duncannon Avenue that resulted in the murder of 16-year-old Marquise Sanders and the wounding of five other individuals. Surveillance video obtained by investigators again captured the same vehicle used in the Sentner Street shooting. Additional 9mm FCCs were also recovered from the shooting scene.
The Hyundai Sonata, which police determined was stolen, was found torched later that morning.
On the afternoon of August 23, 25-year-old Abdul Vicks, a Philadelphia rap artist and head of a loosely organized street group known as the Young Bag Chasers, was fatally shot inside a vehicle on the 100 block of West Olney Avenue. Video of the murder was widely-circulated on social media. Later that afternoon, the Philadelphia Fire Department responded to a report of a vehicle fire on the 6500 block of North 15th Street. Firefighters observed several FCCs inside the Kia Sportage and notified law enforcement.
During the course of the investigation, Philadelphia Police Detectives came across information which led to a search warrant of the defendant’s residence. Several firearms and related gear were recovered in the course of the search. Through forensic examinations, surveillance videos, and witness statements, investigators were able to link the defendant to these shootings.
“I applaud the extremely thorough investigation conducted by the Philadelphia Police Department, as well as the additional investigation done by members of the Gun Violence Task Force,” said DA Krasner. “I also strongly urge parents across the city to check your children’s bedrooms, bookbags, and other locations. Help us get guns off the street and out of our children’s lives. We all must work together to ensure that our youth aren’t going down the wrong path.”
“I want to thank the Philadelphia Police Department’s Homicide Unit and Shooting Investigation Group for their excellent work piecing this complex case together,” said Assistant District Attorney Cydney Pope. “This case is an excellent example of what collaboration between law enforcement can achieve.”
“I applaud the courageous work of the Office of the Philadelphia District Attorney, first responders and the Gun Violence Task Force, for their collaborative efforts to bring some measure of justice to the multiple families impacted by recent shootings in Olney, which resulted in multiple homicides and non-fatal injuries,” said Senator Sharif Street (TKTK). “Every time a weapon is fired it does incalculable damage to our communities. Some of the shooters continue to be younger in age, and possess weapons enhanced to do optimum damage. This demands our urgent and consistent cooperative effort as leaders and a community. I’m proud to have marshalled state resources to bring a full forensic lab to Philadelphia. We will continue to work with our colleagues to advance commonsense gun reform policy that we know saves lives as well as work with parents and community groups to positively engage our youth year round.”
6ABC’s video coverage is below:
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