The 25-year-old rapper LGP QUA (born Qidere Johnson) was shot and killed on May 11, just before 5 p.m., near M and East Luzerne Streets, where it appears that the gunman attacked the robber and was shot during a struggle, according to authorities. Now, police say they have arrested two 19-year-olds, Joshua Thomas-Coleman and Abdul Boyd, in connection with the slaying, and both face murder charges. And a third suspect, Amir Earley, 21, is still on the run.
The story unfolds in surveillance footage: three masked gunmen, all armed, were trying to rob QUA of his jewelry. The confrontation devolved into chaos and, ultimately, a hail of gunfire that killed QUA. The trio escaped in a stolen vehicle, possibly with Earley behind the wheel, and with two in custody, there is still a loose end, armed and dangerous.
Now, a $20,000 reward has been offered for anyone with tips leading to Earley's capture and conviction. It's a race against time as police are pleading with the community to step forward with information that might bring closure to a city and a family still in mourning.
QUA'S funeral service was held on Saturday, May 24. The room was packed with almost 500 people, some in tears, others in disbelief, who came to honor the memory of a young man starting to carve his name into the city's music scene. His gift for raw, message-driven lyrics touched fans from well outside of Philly. To millions, he was more than just a rapper, a voice for the voiceless, a symbol of possibility emerging from concrete.
The streets that brought up QUA are the same that took his life. That's a sobering thought for fans, friends, and family who still have many questions. Why him? Why then? Could this have been stopped?
The city is restless until Amir Earley is found. A brilliant artist is dead, and the shadows remain long in his absence. Authorities are asking anyone with information about Earley's location to come forward.
Justice may have started, but security, resolution, and healing are still out there, somewhere, waiting. For the loved ones of LGP QUA, his fans, and a city that's had to read too many headlines like this one, it's time for that other final chapter to be drafted, and it begins with one more arrest.
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