Philadelphia High School Star Athlete Killed in Morning Shooting

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — A 17-year-old student-athlete was shot and killed Tuesday morning in the Feltonville neighborhood of Philadelphia, leaving his school and community in mourning. Noah Scurry, a standout basketball player and top academic achiever at Samuel Fels High School, was gunned down while leaving for school with his mother.

Police responded to the 5000 block of Rorer Street around 7:15 a.m. after reports of a shooting. Scurry was found with multiple gunshot wounds in an alley behind his home and was rushed to Albert Einstein Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. No arrests have been made, and police have not released a suspect description or motive.

Principal Melissa Rasper described Scurry as a beloved student who scored the highest SAT marks in the school community. “This is a difficult time, but I know our community will be there to support one another as we remember a beloved student and classmate,” Rasper said in a letter to families. The school has canceled all boys’ basketball games for the remainder of the week.

Classmates remembered Scurry as a positive force. “Whenever he entered a room, the room always lit. It was always a smile on someone’s face when he was around,” said sophomore Mohammed El-Faki. Another classmate, Taitiana Jasinski, added, “He brought good energy to everybody.”

The school district has deployed its Prevention & Intervention Team Emergency Crisis Response team to provide counseling and support services. Parents were encouraged to monitor their children’s behavior and seek help through the district’s mental health hotline, 1-833-PHL-HOPE.

Police are urging anyone with information to contact them at 215-686-TIPS or submit anonymous tips through the Safe2Say Something program. The community remains in shock as they grapple with the loss of a young life full of promise.