Crime
Noah Scurry, Samuel Fels High School basketball player shot and killed outside his Philadelphia home
A 17-year-old high school student with a bright future in academics and athletics was tragically shot and killed outside his Philadelphia home Tuesday morning as he prepared to leave for school.
The victim, identified as Noah Scurry, a standout basketball player and academic achiever at Samuel Fels High School, was attacked around 7:15 a.m. in front of his residence.
Scurry was entering a car with his mother when the shooting occurred, according to Monique Braxton, spokesperson for the School District of Philadelphia.
Police reported that Scurry was shot multiple times. He was rushed to the hospital but succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at 7:37 a.m.
“This is a heartbreaking loss,” Braxton said. “The principal, coach, teammates, and classmates are devastated. Noah was on the verge of graduating and had a promising future ahead of him, likely with college basketball opportunities across the country. His life was senselessly cut short.”
Noah was known not only for his talents on the basketball court but also for his exceptional academic abilities. He was his school’s highest SAT scorer and was widely admired for his kind and helpful nature.
“He was the kind of student who offered to help without being asked,” Braxton shared. “He was a role model, both academically and personally, with no history of disciplinary issues.”
The tragic news has shaken the school community. All games scheduled for the week have been canceled as students and staff process the loss.
“The whole school is in mourning,” said 10th grader Mohamed Elfaki. “Noah was someone who brought light into every room he entered. He was smart, kind, and always made people smile. It’s hard to believe he’s gone.”
To support students and staff during this difficult time, mental health professionals and counselors have been made available at the school.
Homicide detectives are investigating the incident to determine what led to the shooting and to identify any suspects. Although police initially reported recovering a weapon at the scene, they later clarified that no weapon was found.
Authorities are urging anyone with information about the shooting to come forward as they work to bring those responsible to justice.
This senseless act of violence has left a promising young life cut short and a community grappling with immense grief.
AUSTIN, Texas — A man was taken into custody Saturday afternoon following a shooting inside the Austin Central Library that left one person seriously injured and prompted a large emergency response and temporary shelter-in-place order in the downtown area.
According to the Austin Police Department (APD), officers responded shortly after 12:00 p.m. to reports of gunfire inside the Austin Central Library, located at 710 W. César Chávez Street.
Upon arrival, police and Austin-Travis County EMS units found one victim suffering from a gunshot wound.
The individual was transported to a local hospital in serious but stable condition.
Assistant Police Chief Lee Rogers stated during a press briefing that the shooter fled the scene before officers arrived.
After an extensive search, the suspect—identified as 55-year-old Harold Newton Keene—was located and arrested in South Austin at approximately 1:25 p.m.
The library was safely evacuated, and the shelter-in-place alert was lifted shortly after Keene’s apprehension.
Authorities emphasized that the shooting appeared to be an isolated incident involving only one suspect and one victim.
“This was not an active shooter situation,” Rogers confirmed.
Preliminary reports and public records reveal that Harold Newton Keene has a lengthy criminal history, including multiple arrests for assault, family violence, terroristic threats, burglary, drug possession, and evading arrest.
He is described by law enforcement officials as a habitual violent offender who has had numerous prior run-ins with police.
Records indicate Keene was previously arrested for threatening a man with a firearm several months ago and, in a separate incident, assaulted another inmate while in custody at the Travis County Jail.
In both cases, prosecutors later declined to pursue charges.
Authorities have not yet released a possible motive for the shooting or confirmed whether the suspect and victim knew each other.
The Austin Police Department’s Major Crimes Division is leading the investigation.
Anyone with information related to the incident is urged to contact the Austin Police Department or Crime Stoppers at 512-472-TIPS.