Philadelphia — A Monday evening turned tragic on Jan. 12 when 16-year-old Khyon Smith-Tate was found fatally shot inside the bathroom of a busy Chipotle restaurant near Temple University’s campus. The discovery came around 5:15 p.m. at the Chipotle on the 1100 block of West Montgomery Avenue, where students and locals were grabbing dinner on the first day of the spring semester.
Police say Smith-Tate, a North Philadelphia resident, walked into the restaurant with at least one other juvenile and asked an employee for the key to the restroom just before the shooting occurred. Surveillance cameras captured the pair entering the bathroom moments before an employee found Smith-Tate suffering from a gunshot wound to the chest. He was pronounced dead at the scene at about 5:24 p.m. by Philadelphia Fire Department medics.
Investigators recovered a spent shell casing from the bathroom, indicating at least one shot was fired from a semi-automatic weapon inside the small space. The exact circumstances leading up to the shooting remain under investigation, and police have not confirmed a motive or whether the gunshot was intentional.
The restaurant was packed with customers and employees at the time, many of them Temple University students returning from winter break. Several patrons were detained briefly for questioning, but so far no one has been charged in connection with the death. Authorities did take a person of interest into custody nearby minutes after the shooting, but their role is still unclear.
Philadelphia Police are actively seeking information about three possible suspects, all described as teen boys between the ages of 16 and 17. They were seen carrying backpacks and wearing dark clothing, though detailed identities and motives have not been released. Detectives are combing through footage from multiple surveillance cameras in the area to piece together what happened.
Temple University officials issued a statement expressing deep sorrow over the loss, calling gun violence a “profound tragedy” and extending thoughts to Smith-Tate’s family and loved ones. They also encouraged students affected by the incident to seek support through campus counseling services as police continue to investigate.
As of now, police have not made any arrests, and the community remains shaken by the sudden loss of a young life in a place many considered safe and familiar. Authorities urge anyone with information about the shooting to contact the Philadelphia Police Department’s tip line.
