An argument about basketball should never lead to someone’s death — ever.
According to The Philadelphia Inquirer, however, 18-year-old Amir Byrd saw things differently when he allegedly shot and killed his brother, Anthony Byrd, 22, who cops found laying in a pool of blood in the kitchen of the family’s home. Police were called to the scene of what they were told was a shooting in the 2400 block of Upper Cedar Lane on Saturday. The brothers had attended a basketball game earlier in the day, according to their mother, who says Anthony had taunted his brother for losing against his older sibling.
When the pair arrived back home, things clearly hadn’t settled as Amir allegedly rushed to the bedroom to retrieve a gun he is now being accused of shooting his brother with. The most shocking part about the ordeal is that Amir reportedly shot Anthony NINE times, with one of the bullets hitting him in the head. Detectives later found the weapon in question, which is believed to have been owned by one of the family members living at the property.
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Law enforcement officers arrived at the property and found Anthony’s lifeless body in the kitchen after suffering multiple gunshot wounds. Police say that Amir gave a statement to police about shooting his brother after his arrest and he remains in custody with no bail.
Upper Darby Police Superintendent Timothy Bernhardt said, “They have to go through the hardest part now. They still have to bury their son and the other son is going to be involved in the criminal justice system and the court process, and that itself is draining.”
The shooting of Anthony Byrd is a tragedy that should not have happened. It’s time for us to take action and address gun violence in our country.
We must advocate for common-sense gun laws, and we must hold our lawmakers accountable for their inaction. It’s time to say enough is enough and take meaningful steps to prevent tragedies like this from happening again. Let’s honor the memory of Anthony Byrd by working towards a future where gun violence is no longer a threat to our communities.