Zaakir McClendon, 21, pleaded guilty Friday to two separate shootings that killed teenagers in Philadelphia in 2022 and 2023. The pleas connect him to the ambush outside Roxborough High School that killed 14-year-old Nicolas Elizalde, and to a North Philadelphia shooting that left 16-year-old Nafis Betrand-Hill dead. The admissions mark the latest turn in cases that have stretched across years of investigation and court proceedings.
McClendon Pleads Guilty In Both Cases
The guilty pleas were first reported by NBC10 Philadelphia, which said McClendon admitted involvement in both the Roxborough and Montgomery Avenue shootings. NBC10, citing KYW Newsradio, reported that the admissions followed a fresh review of forensic and digital evidence.
Investigators Say DNA And Phone Records Tied Him To The Scene
According to The Philadelphia Inquirer, detectives say a DNA profile recovered from a fired cartridge casing at the Roxborough scene later matched McClendon in national databases. Investigators also say his phone records showed frequent contact with other defendants…..