Broaster brothers connected with 2004 fatal shooting

United States Attorney Zane David Memeger announced the arrests of seven people connected to a crack cocaine and PCP gang, including Cassius and Jerome Broaster, the two men targeted in the 2004 shooting that left 10-year old Faheem Thomas Childs dead.

Charged in the case are: Jerome Broaster, 38, Elliott Broaster, 34, Cassius Broaster, 37, and Larkeem Broaster, 33, Shannon Powell, 36, Nick Higgens, 29, and Ronald Johnson, 26, all residents of Philadelphia. Memeger said that Jerome Broaster is charged in 20 counts of the superseding indictment, including two drug conspiracy offenses.  In the first drug conspiracy charge, Jerome Broaster and Powell are alleged to have conspired to distribute 100 grams or more of PCP between August 2011 and October 2011. 

Jerome Broaster and Elliott Broaster are alleged to have conspired to distribute 100 grams or more of PCP between August 2011 and August 2012.  They are also charged with three counts of distribution of PCP and three counts of distribution of PCP within 1,000 feet of a school.  

If convicted Jerome Broaster faces a maximum possible sentence of life, with a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years; a maximum fine of $132 million; a mandatory minimum of 16 years up to lifetime supervised release; and a $2,000 special assessment. If convicted Cassius Broaster faces a maximum possible sentence of 60 years, with a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 1 year; a maximum fine of $6 million; a mandatory minimum of 12 years up to lifetime supervised release; and a $200 special assessment.

The Broaster brothers have long been targeted by law enforcement and Jerome and Cassius Broaster were characterized by former Police commissioner Sylvester Johnson as “the worst people in the city as far as violence is concerned.”

On February 11, 2004, the two brothers were the intended targets in a shootout outside T.M. Peirce Elementary School, at 23d and Cambria Streets. The victim was 10-year-old Faheem Thomas-Childs, who suffered a fatal gunshot to the head and later died on Feb. 16.

Shooting Suspect Arrested

Officials with the Philadelphia Police Department said an anonymous tip led to the arrest of a 23-year old man wanted in connection with a shooting that occurred on Aug. 31.

The suspect is Kamil Singleton from the 1900 block of South 18th Street. Singleton is charged with aggravated assault and related offenses and was arrested Oct. 31.

According to investigators, at 6:15 p.m. on August 31, the 25 year-old victim was sitting on the 1700 block Manton Street when a Black male pulled a handgun from his waistband and fired several shots in the victim’s direction, wounding him in the face. The incident was recorded by nearby surveillance cameras and showed the shooter leaving the scene in a maroon Pontiac with tinted windows. This video footage allowed 1st District officers to identify Singleton as the suspect in this case due to previous encounters Singleton had with police. On Oct. 5, 2012, the Philadelphia Police Department released the surveillance video and a photo of Singleton asking the assistance of the public. Within days, South Detective Division received an anonymous phone call with the whereabouts of Singleton.