Police Indict 21‑Year‑Old in Three Separate Murder Cases

A Philadelphia resident, Richard Pridgen, has been formally charged with a third murder after a grand jury presented evidence to prosecutors. The new indictment follows two earlier cases in which Pridgen was accused of taking lives, and he is currently serving a 17‑year federal sentence for unrelated carjackings.

Latest Charge: April 22, 2023 Shooting

• Date: Late on April 22, 2023
• Location: North 17th Street
• Victim: 27‑year‑old male
• Details: Video footage shows Pridgen firing multiple shots at the victim before fleeing in a stolen car. The vehicle had been taken the day before from a nearby street, linking the incident to Pridgen’s known gang ties.

Background

• Gang affiliation: Belongs to a violent local group that has drawn attention from the state attorney general, city police, and federal agents.
• Pattern: Authorities have been investigating his activities for years, noting a consistent pattern of violent and criminal behavior.

Additional Alleged Incident

• Date: May 24 (year unspecified)
• Details: Prosecutors say Pridgen is also accused of a May 24 assault in which he shot a 31‑year‑old man and wounded another. The details of that case were not released at the time of the indictment.

Legal Stance

• Pridgen has denied all charges in his previous trials.
• His legal team, representing him in those cases, declined to comment on the new indictment.