Just weeks after celebrating his highest SAT score and sharing his love for basketball on social media, the teenager’s life was tragically cut short, leaving a grieving community in disbelief.
Tragedy struck in North Philadelphia on Tuesday morning when 17-year-old Noah Scurry, a high school basketball player and top student, was fatally shot near his home.
Noah Scurry is seen trying to score a field goal during a basketball match, in a video dated October 14, 2024 | Source: Instagram/rarefootagesports | Instagram/_lilnoah4 | Instagram/felsbasketball
The incident occurred just before 7:15 a.m. on January 14, 2025, in an alleyway behind the Rorer Street rowhomes in the Feltonville neighborhood, according to Philadelphia police.
Noah was preparing to head to school with his mother when the attack happened. School District of Philadelphia spokesperson Monique Braxton confirmed that the two were about to get into their car when gunfire erupted.
Monique Baxton, a spokesperson for the Samuel Fells High School, shares her shock and grief on the tragic death of Noah Scurry, as seen in a video dated January 15, 2025 | Source: YouTube/cbsphilly
Speaking on behalf of the school district, she expressed, “The principal, coach, players, classmates, peers, are distraught. This is unimaginable for them. The student was getting in the car with his mom this morning in the back of his home, and he was shot and killed.”
A law enforcement source reported that dozens of shots were fired at the teenager. Noah was hit multiple times throughout his body, police said.
Law enforcement officers are seen at the crime scene in a video shared on January 15, 2025 | Source: YouTube/cbsphilly
One neighbor recounted the horrifying moment, “I heard gunshots — multiple — and then just screaming from the mom. I can still hear the mom’s mother cry, seeing her baby on that floor like that.”
Medics arrived on the scene and rushed Noah to a nearby hospital. Despite their efforts, the teen was pronounced dead shortly after his arrival. As of now, police have not disclosed a possible motive for the shooting, nor have they announced any arrests.
Noah’s death has shaken the North Philadelphia community, especially his school, Samuel Fels High School. Melissa Rasper, the school’s principal, shared a statement on the day of the tragedy, describing him as a standout student.
“The student recently scored the highest among the Fels community on the SAT college placement tests,” she said.
Noah Scurry is pictured during a basketball game with his peers, in a video dated October 14, 2024 | Source: Instagram/rarefootagesports | Instagram/_lilnoah4 | Instagram/felsbasketball
Noah was also a talented basketball player. His achievements extended beyond academics. In light of the incident, the school canceled all boys’ basketball games for the rest of the week.
Melissa also said, “Ours is a tight-knit community, and I know that this is difficult news to receive even when it doesn’t occur on school property.”
“Death is rarely something that is easy to accept, especially when it involves a young person, a classmate, and particularly during these times as our city grapples with heightened gun violence,” noted the school principal.
Melissa acknowledged the emotional impact of the loss, emphasizing the importance of mental health support during this difficult time. “To support the emotional needs of our students, we have counseling and support services available for those who may need assistance coping with this grief,” she added.
Crisis response teams and school counselors were on-site to provide immediate help to staff and students. The grief among students was palpable. A video captured the somber mood at the school following the news.
“The basketball boys weren’t in the lunchroom. The whole school seemed upset. I saw people crying. It was just traumatic,” shared Mohamed Elfaki, a 10th-grade student.
Mohamed Elfaki, a 10-th grader at Samuel Fels High School, shares his thoughts on Noah Scurry’s tragic death, in a video dated January 15, 2025 | Source: YouTube/cbsphilly
Noah’s family is now grappling with an unimaginable loss. A GoFundMe campaign organized by his cousin, Breanna McGlynn, seeks to raise funds for his funeral expenses.
Breanna described Noah as having “such a caring and loving heart” and noted his dedication to his family, especially his siblings.
“He was one of the top students in his school, achieving the highest score on the SAT college placement test out of his entire grade,” the campaign reads.
It also highlighted his lifelong passion for basketball, which he had pursued from a young age, and mentioned that colleges were scouting him. As of January 17, 2025, the fundraiser has collected $5,232 out of its $5,500 goal, with contributions from 122 donors.
Noah’s social media accounts paint a picture of a young man with ambition and resilience. He shared his last post on Instagram on December 29, 2024.
It read, “You wonder why they proud of me because I gave my block hope, I’m learning now I got to play my haters close they gonna hate you even if you got a bag or you broke keep my head above water they gonna try to sink the boat.”
His final post on X featured a short clip from a basketball game, dated December 11, 2024. He proudly captioned it with his game scores, “Stats against La Salle College High 24 points 3 assist 4 rebounds.”
Noah Scurry’s death has reignited conversations about the rise of gun violence in Philadelphia, particularly its impact on young lives full of potential.
His tragic passing leaves behind a devastated family, a grieving school community, and a neighborhood mourning the loss of a young man with a bright future ahead.
