Philly to honor families and survivors during National Crime Victims Rights Week

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Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner, alongside members of his office and the Philadelphia Sheriff’s Office, joined faith and community leaders for a news conference Monday to mark National Crime Victims Rights Week.

This weeklong focus on victims allows law enforcement, faith leaders, and grassroots organizations to amplify and honor the stories and rights of crime survivors and their communities.

This year’s theme is “Kinship Connecting and Healing.”

Krasner said the events aim to help people understand their rights and the services available to them, as well as to honor the advocates and community groups that support them.

“One of the most important parts of my job as the elected Philadelphia DA is to advocate and support those who are victims, survivors and survivors of crime, especially when those crimes are violent and they are senseless,” Krasner said. “Truly senseless.”

Krasner said his office’s External Engagement Division actively provides preventative and crisis support through several units. The CARES Unit offers immediate peer crisis support to homicide co-survivors and families, with peer crisis responders deploying to crime scenes and hospitals for resource assistance.

Once a defendant is charged, the Victim Services and Relocations units engage, offering counseling, court support, housing and social services for victims and their families. The Community Engagement Unit manages the Violence Prevention Grant Initiative, which funds nonprofit organizations focused on crime prevention, intervention, and victim support. The DA’s office visits victims’ homes to inform residents about city services and support from regional victim witness organizations. While these groups operate independently, they are funded through the District Attorney’s office, and the office actively advocates for increased funding due to the vital nature of their work.

“So it’s really important that we reach them where they are, that we are within their zone, and that is one of the reasons we’ve made a real effort to communicate through social media to highlight the names, stories and lives of victims and families that have been impacted by violence,” Krasner said.

As part of Monday’s event, Krasner and officials from the Philadelphia Sheriff’s Office requested the public’s help to find 25-year-old Zonte Redmond, who is accused of fatally shooting Shahyodd Chavis in January of last year. Residents can contact the Philadelphia Police tip line at 215-686-TIPS, the Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Warrant Unit at 215-683-3726, or the U.S. Marshall’s tip line at 1-877-WANTED-2.

Assistant District Attorney Jeff Hojnowski said Chavis argued with his ex-girlfriend outside her Cecil Street home, after which Redmond appeared from his mother’s house next door, drew a firearm, and shot the victim multiple times.

Investigators said they identified Redmond from Ring camera footage at his mother’s house. An arrest warrant was issued for him on February 6, 2024, but he had already fled the area.

Thaisha Richards and Daniel Chavis said the pain of losing their son is still very raw.

“He was such a good kid. He did everything his way. His life was just taken. As parents, we hope and pray that we get to see our children just live out their life, and although Shahyodd’s life was cut short, he did a lot. He touched a lot of people. He was that kid who just, if you can’t do it, I’m going show you how to do it,” Richards said.

“I just want to say thank y’all for inviting us to get our son’s story out,” Chavis said. “Hopefully, this will catch the guy who did this.”

The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office Victim Services Unit announced a series of events for National Crime Victims’ Rights Week (April 6-12):

• Candlelight Ceremony: Philadelphia Coalition for Victim Advocacy, City Hall, April 8, 2025, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
• Food Drive: Healing Philly Service Project, Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office, April 9, 2025, 2:00 p.m.
• Awards Ceremony: Healing Philly, Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office, April 10, 2025, 3:00 p.m.
• Luncheon: Philadelphia Coalition for Victim Advocacy, Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office, April 11, 2025, 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.