17 Years for Philly Gunman in Elderly Carjacking

PHILADELPHIA, PA – A Philadelphia man learned his fate today, facing nearly 17 years behind bars for a brazen daytime carjacking that terrorized a 73-year-old victim in the Spruce Hill neighborhood. Zyair Dangerfield-Hill, 24, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Paul S. Diamond to 199 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release.

The sentencing stems from an April 2021 incident where Dangerfield-Hill and at least three accomplices ambushed the victim as he tended to his vehicle on Pine Street. According to trial evidence, the group brandished loaded handguns, demanding the man’s car keys, cell phone, and wallet. When the victim stated he had no phone or wallet, they settled for a $20 bill and the keys to his car. The entire ordeal unfolded with cold, calculated menace.

“Dangerfield-Hill participated in the ambush of an innocent stranger in a brazen daylight carjacking, the victim surrounded by assailants pointing guns and shouting threats,” declared U.S. Attorney David Metcalf. “We will not permit armed criminals to prey on people in this city. We’ll continue to work with our partners to put violent offenders behind bars, where they belong.” The indictment charged Dangerfield-Hill with one count of carjacking and aiding and abetting, and one count of carrying and using a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence and aiding and abetting. He was convicted on both counts after a full trial earlier this year.

The stolen vehicle was quickly spotted by Philadelphia Police officers responding to the carjacking report. A high-speed chase ensued, ending when the car crashed into metal pillars at 52nd Street and Paschall Avenue. All four suspects fled on foot, but Dangerfield-Hill was apprehended hiding behind a motorcycle approximately three and a half blocks from the crash site. Evidence, including DNA, latent fingerprints, and location data, definitively linked him to the crime.

Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Philadelphia Field Office, added, “Let this sentencing serve as a clear warning to anyone considering violent crime in our city: we will find you, and we will bring you to justice. Carjackings are a vicious crime that endanger lives, spread fear, and erode the very fabric of community safety.” The FBI worked alongside the Philadelphia Police Department on the investigation.

Assistant United States Attorneys J. Jeanette Kang and David Weisberg prosecuted the case, ensuring Dangerfield-Hill faced the full weight of the law for his participation in this violent act. This sentencing sends a clear message: in Philadelphia, armed criminals will be held accountable for preying on vulnerable citizens. The investigation was a joint effort between the Philadelphia Police Department and the FBI Philadelphia Violent Crimes Task Force.

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