Youth ride bikes through city for gunned-down teen
CHESTER >> As the firetruck siren wailed and dozens of kids pedaled bicycles along West 10th Street, 12-year-old Tahmaj Powell expressed his wish for the event commemorating his teen cousin, Zenas Powell, who was shot and killed May 21.
“I just want to ride for peace,” the boy said.
After his cousin’s death, Tahmaj Powell wrote a letter to Chester Mayor Thaddeus Kirkland.
“When I read the letter, I was heartbroken,” Kirkland said. “Tahmaj was pouring out his heart about how many friends and family members he’s lost down through the years to violence in our community and he wanted to do something special to try to bring awareness to having peace in our community.”
So, on Saturday, dozens of youth brought their bicycles to the parking lot of Buchman Meadows, the starting point of the “Rideout for Peace.” Taking to the streets, the kids pedaled their way throughout the neighborhood, ending at the Unity Rally for Peace at Memorial Park.
“It hurts so bad,” Nas’ dad, Robert Powell, told the crowd before the start of the ride, “but I’m here today. And, y’all gave me the strength to be here
“We’re just trying to shine some light on the day and hopefully get to the end of this and find out really what happened, who done this. Hopefully, we get some justice on Nas.” — Robert Powell, Nas’ father
today. We’re going to do this.”
Powell explained that his 14-year-old son loved to ride his bicycle.
“That’s what Nas was into — bikes,” he said, “so that’s how his cousin came up with the idea, ‘Bikes up, guns down.’”
That was the chant called by the kids during the ride.
The father appreciated what his nephew, his mom, Shante and his younger brother, Iking, were doing in memory of his son.
“The turnout was unbelievable, it was beautiful,” he said.
As he, his son, his daughter and other friends and family finished walking along the route, he talked about the son he lost.
“He was a normal kid,” Powell said. “He was into bikes, he was into sports, into football. This is the things that he wanted to do.”
The Chester Community Charter School student was with his 16-yearold cousin, Quamar Powell, shortly after 8 p.m. May 21 when they were shot outside a convenience store at 10th and Pine streets. Both were transported to Crozer-Chester Medical Center, where Tahmaj Powell was pronounced dead. City and school officials offered a total of $10,000 for information leading to the arrest of the shooter.
“We’re just trying to shine some light on the day and hopefully get to the end of this and find out really what happened, who done this,” he said. “Hopefully, we get some justice on Nas.”
Echoing the sentiments of others at the ride, he said it wasn’t only about his son.
“We want justice for everybody,” he said.
As Kirkland said, “Today we’re riding for Nas, but not only for Nas, but for all of the young people who have lost their lives to violence in this community. This is a ride of peace.
“We’re doing this so we can raise awareness in our community about the importance of peace. We want to see each and every one of you grow up, grow old and grow to be brilliant in our community.”
Nas’ dad was thankful for all the support his family received.
“It’s been a long couple months now,” he said. “It’s hard, you know, it’s really hard. But, to come out here today with the city and the community and the kids, it’s just a blessing and it’s great to let somebody know there’s still people out here that really care, people that got heart.”
Anyone with information regarding Powell’s shooting is asked to contact city Detective Robert Whitaker at 610-4478420 or county Detective Thomas Scarpato at 610891-4708 with information.