Man Sentenced For Mass Shooting Near Philly School, Murders Of 2 Boys

PHILADELPHIA — A man was sentenced to decades in prison for the murders of two teenage boys in Philadelphia, including a mass shooting outside Roxborough High School that injured four other kids.

Zaakir McClendon, 21, was sentenced to 40 to 80 years behind bars after pleading guilty to two counts of third-degree murder.

Last year, McClendon was the sixth and final defendant arrested for a mass shooting outside Roxborough High School.

The shooting happened in September 2022, after a football scrimmage between Roxborough High School, Northeast High School, and Boys Latin Charter School. A group of teenagers were leaving the field when multiple shooters ambushed them, authorities said.

Nicolas Elizalde, 14, was killed. Four other teens were injured.

Five people were initially arrested. McClendon was charged with murder in August 2025, after lab analysis of DNA evidence from the scene, police said.

Phone records also showed that frequently contacted two others charged in the shooting around the time of the incident.

McClendon also pleaded guilty to the April 2023 murder of 16-year-old Nafis Betrand-Hill in North Philadelphia. He was the third person arrested in the case.

"We can only hope that the family and friends of Nicolas and Nafis will find some solace with this outcome," said District Attorney Larry Krasner. "And while convictions won’t bring back Nicolas and Nafis or heal the physical and psychological scars endured by those who were injured in these heinous acts, my office will continue to support the co-victims of these senseless tragedies."