Jalen Mickens, not pictured, was sentenced in the murders of Sircarr Johnson, Jr., center inset, and Salahaldin Mahmoud, left inset. (Crime scene screenshot from NBC’s Philadelphia affiliate WCAU; Victims’ screenshots from Philadelphia CBS affiliate KYW-TV)
A gang member was sentenced this week in connection with a spate of gun violence that killed two people, including a small-business owner hosting a barbecue for his community in Philadelphia on the Fourth of July in 2021.
Jalen Mickens was sentenced to between 22.5 to 50 years in prison after pleading guilty in October for his involvement in three incidents in West Philadelphia. Killed were Sircarr Johnson, Jr., 23, and Salahaldin Mahmoud, 21. Five others were hurt. Authorities recovered more than 100 fired cartridge casings at the scene, officials said in a news release.
Mickens pleaded guilty to two counts of murder, conspiracy to commit murder, aggravated assault, and other charges, prosecutors said.
“The Philadelphia criminal legal system has helped ensure that Jalen Mickens can no longer harm the overwhelmingly peace-seeking residents of West Philadelphia,” Assistant District Attorney Jeff Palmer said.
“I hope that the family of the victims and the entire community find some closure and peace knowing that one of the perpetrators of this reckless and senseless act of gun violence will be held accountable for his actions,” Councilmember Jamie Gauthier said.
In a news conference after the sentencing, Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner described Mickens as a very active member of a group that used to be known as 02da04.
“Well, 02da04 went to the jail,” Krasner said, using a rhyme for the gang that had mocked their victims on social media. “02da04 is no more.”
The gun violence shocked the community amid a spike in crime. People ran for their lives as the block party was interrupted by senseless gang gunfire. The incident prompted a massive local, state and federal law enforcement crackdown on the local gang in December 2022, Palmer said. The dragnet led to the arrests of a mother and a son in a nonfatal shooting and firearms trafficking case, both of whom have pleaded guilty, Palmer said.
Palmer called the barbecue shooting “staggering and heartbreaking” for the city.
“There’s absolutely nothing that we can ever do to bring back the lives of those that were lost or to change the lives of those who were shot and therefore forever impacted by the violence that day.”
He said that through the enforcement actions in the case, officials have reported that shootings in the two districts have decreased considerably since that day.
“That is a staggering decrease for neighborhoods that for too long have just been overwhelmed by the amount of daily violence that they don’t deserve,” he said.
Johnson, the owner of Premiere Bande Clothing, threw a barbecue to share his success with his community “repaid in kind by being shot to death by mister Jalen Mickens,” Palmer said.
Johnson’s father told local NBC affiliate WCAU that his son was the greatest person he’s ever known.
“He’s everything I wish I would have been,” the elder Johnson said, the station reported.
Mahmoud owned a towing business and was a relative of Philadelphia State Sen. Sharif Street.
“This could happen to anybody’s child. I never thought it would happen to mine,” his mother told local ABC affiliate WPVI.
“Lala was a real person,” Street said of his nephew.
A trial is pending for one of Mickens’ co-defendants, Palmer said. Two others are being sought, prosecutors said.
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