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Charges dropped against twin brother in football star’s death; father under investigation

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Updated  December 12, 2019 10:20pm EST
Philadelphia
FOX 29 Philadelphia

Charges dropped against twin brother in football star’s death; father under investigation

Officials have dropped charges against a teen in connection with his brother's death. FOX 29 Jeff Cole spoke with the teen after charges were dropped Wednesday.

PHILADELPHIA - Officials have dropped all charges, including a murder charge, against a Philadelphia teen in connection with his twin brother’s death.

Fayaadh Gillard appeared in court Wednesday morning in connection with the Dec. 1 incident that claimed the life of Suhail Gillard.

"All I want to say is that it ain’t over. I got unfinished business. Me and my brother, we had dreams and I plan on fulfilling those dreams," Fayaadh told FOX 29's Jeff Cole.  “Dreams, big dreams, school, football, music—anything."

Fayaadh Gillard spoke outside the courthouse Wednesday after charges were dropped.

The family’s attorney, Shaka Johnson, has said the incident occurred while the boys and their sister were visiting their father in the city’s Overbrook neighborhood.

Charges dropped against twin brother in football star’s death

Attorney Shaka Johnson joined Good Day to discuss the case.

According to police, the twins and their sister visited their father Aleem Gillard, 42, along the 1100 block of North 63rd when the shooting happened. In what a city prosecutor called a “tragic accident," Fayaadh shot his twin in the chest, killing him.

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Johnson says it was an accident and his family says that Fayaadh is a victim as well.

"I want to be very clear  Fayaadh Gillard was not walking around with a gun before this incident took place. That young man never as much held a toy gun in his hand. He was not raised that way," Johnson said. "He is a person who carries just about a 3.0 GPA. He is co-captain of the football team at Mastery Charter."

A star high school football player has died after police say his twin brother was handling a gun that went off and struck him on Sunday.

Fayaadh had originally been charged with murder, obstruction of justice and related offenses.

Suhail was a three-time all public league running back for the Mastery Charter Pumas, and had just finished his senior season days before his death.

District Attorney Larry Krasner says the boys' father illegally possessed a gun and is under investigation. According to Krasner, Gillard showed the boys how to load and unload the gun.

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