Police Still Seek Answers in 2022 Fatal Shooting in Frankford

Detectives say the deadly attack may have been a case of mistaken identity.

Mar. 29, 2026 at 2:39pm

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Four years after a 29-year-old man was shot and killed in the Frankford neighborhood of Philadelphia, detectives are still searching for answers. James Taylor was gunned down on his way to a last-minute work shift, with police finding over 20 shell casings at the scene but no suspects or description of the shooters.

Why it matters

Unsolved homicides like this one leave families without closure and raise concerns about public safety in Philadelphia neighborhoods that have historically struggled with gun violence and a lack of police resources to adequately investigate all cases.

The details

On November 9, 2022, James Taylor was shot and killed along the 5400 block of Akron Street in Frankford. Police say Taylor had received a last-minute call to cover a shift at his job, but never made it there. Instead, he stopped at a corner store, where someone opened fire, striking him over 20 times. Taylor died 15 minutes later at the hospital, but police found only shell casings at the scene and have no description of the shooters.

  • On November 9, 2022, James Taylor was fatally shot in Frankford.
  • Four years later, in March 2026, the case remains unsolved.

The players

James Taylor

A 29-year-old Philadelphia resident who was killed in a shooting in Frankford in 2022.

Santo Montecalvo

A representative of the Citizens Crime Commission, which is urging anyone with information about the shooting to come forward.

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What they’re saying

“Upon arrival they located an unresponsive male suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.”

— Santo Montecalvo, Citizens Crime Commission

What’s next

The Citizens Crime Commission is asking anyone with information about the 2022 shooting to call 215-546-TIPS. All calls remain anonymous as detectives continue to investigate the unsolved homicide.

The takeaway

This tragic and unsolved shooting highlights the ongoing challenges Philadelphia faces in addressing gun violence and providing closure for victims' families. The lack of leads or suspects four years later underscores the need for more resources and community cooperation to solve these types of crimes.