South Philly Shooter Sentenced to 12 Years for Firearms Violation

PHILADELPHIA, PA – In a brazen display of violence, Kalief Ladson, 29, of Philadelphia, PA, fired at least 17 shots at a group of men on a South Philadelphia street, putting innocent bystanders at risk of being caught in the crossfire. The shooting occurred on January 23, 2023, at approximately 11:45 a.m. in the area of 2100 S. 8th Street.

Ladson and an accomplice parked their car and walked around the corner, where Ladson produced a semiautomatic firearm with an extended magazine. He fired at the group of men as he ran up the sidewalk, sending innocent bystanders fleeing for cover. Surveillance video captured the shooting, which was later reviewed by Philadelphia Police Department investigators. Witnesses were able to identify Ladson from the footage, and a ballistician determined that all of the fired cartridge casings were from the same gun.

Ladson was indicted on April 13, 2023, on one count of possession of ammunition by a felon. He proceeded to trial on November 8, 2023, and was found guilty by a jury on November 9, 2023.

U.S. Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero called Ladson’s actions “beyond reckless” and said that he was too dangerous to be walked free. “This easily could have turned into a mass tragedy,” Romero said. “Kalief Ladson has proven he’s too dangerous to walk free right now. He’s got the next 12 years behind bars to think about what he’s done and how lucky he was not to kill anybody.”

Ladson was sentenced to 144 months’ imprisonment and three years of supervised release by Senior United States District Court Judge Michael M. Baylson. The case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence in communities.

Assistant United States Attorneys Martin E. Howley, Jr. and Thomas M. Zaleski prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Philadelphia Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The ATF’s Special Agent in Charge, Eric J. DeGree, said that Ladson’s actions put his community at grave risk and that the ATF is committed to working with partners to prevent such violent crimes.