Jury convicts Damir Richardson of premeditated murder of 17-year-old Carissa Bright

PHILADELPHIA (August 21, 2024) — District Attorney Larry Krasner and members of the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office's Homicide and Non-Fatal Shootings Unit announced Wednesday that a Philadelphia jury found Damir Richardson (DOB 6/23/98) guilty of first-degree murder (H1) and possession of a murder weapon (M1) for the shooting death of 17-year-old Carissa Bright in the Germantown neighborhood on January 14, 2022.

Bright's murder occurred in the 6500 block of Ross Street when surveillance video obtained by investigators showed Richardson's Honda Odyssey pulling up next to the vehicle with Bright in the back seat. The defendant then opened fire multiple times into the vehicle, striking her in the head and chest. Richardson then sped away from the scene.

After the murder, Philadelphia Police Department Homicide Detectives contacted the surviving juvenile witnesses, but none were cooperative. Investigators believe Bright's boyfriend, who was sitting next to her at the time of the shooting, was the intended target.

Police were able to link Richardson to the shooting because two shell casings (FCCs) were found at the scene that matched another FCC lodged in the windshield of the defendant's vehicle. Additionally, Richardson was located near the crime scene through location analysis and the surveillance video mentioned above. The defendant's DNA was also found on the steering wheel of the vehicle used in the shooting.

Several hours after killing Carissa Bright, the defendant drove to Gloucester Township, New Jersey, and opened fire on a home where his ex-girlfriend lived. However, no one inside the home was injured. Gloucester Police Department investigators, working with Philadelphia Police Department, later determined that the fired shell casings from the Gloucester shooting matched those found at the Germantown crime scene. An analysis of cell phone sites also linked Richardson to the Gloucester shooting.

Richardson was finally arrested on July 23, 2022, after being extradited from California, where he had fled after the two shootings. Immediately after the jury's verdict, which was announced on August 1, 2024, the Honorable Diana Anhalt sentenced him to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

“Thank you to Assistant District Attorney Lauren Crump of our Homicide and Non-Fatal Shootings Unit for her skillful prosecution of this case,” said District Attorney Krasner. “This case is an excellent example of law enforcement cooperation that resulted in taking an extremely dangerous individual off the streets. My office worked hand-in-hand with the Philadelphia Police Department and the Gloucester Police Department to build a strong case against Mr. Richardson. Thanks to this cooperation, this defendant no longer poses a threat to the community.”

“I thank Philadelphia Police Detectives John Maha and Thorsten Lucke and Gloucester Police Detective Marc Grodzielanek for conducting such a thorough investigation,” said ADA Crump. “I am also glad that this collaboration with our law enforcement partners helped build a strong case so we could get justice for Carissa Bright's family and friends.”

CONTACT:
Dustin Slaughter, [email protected]

The following photos were provided by the family of Carissa Bright for use by the news media.

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The Philadelphia District Attorney's Office is the largest prosecutor's office in Pennsylvania and one of the largest in the nation. It serves the more than 1.5 million residents of the City and County of Philadelphia and employs 600 attorneys, detectives, and support staff. The District Attorney's Office is responsible for prosecuting approximately 40,000 criminal cases each year. For more information about the District Attorney's Office, visit PhillyDA.org.