Man convicted in shooting death of 7-year-old Zamar Jones – NBC10 Philadelphia

A man was sentenced to prison Monday for his role in a shooting that led to the shooting death of a 7-year-old boy in West Philadelphia four years ago.

Christopher Linder, 31, faces 25 to 50 years behind bars after pleading guilty to attempted murder, first-degree murder and illegal possession of a firearm in connection with the death of 7-year-old Zamar Jones.

On Saturday, August 1, 2020, Zamar was shot in the head at around 7:30 p.m. while playing with a toy on the front porch of his home in the 200 block of North Simpson Street. A gunman in a Chevrolet pickup truck opened fire on a group of people and then crashed into a red car as the vehicle sped away. Two men then fired back at the pickup truck in revenge. One of those bullets struck Zamar in the head.

Zamar was taken to hospital, where he was pronounced dead two days later.

Linder, 34-year-old Michael Banks and 32-year-old Damar Jones (no relation to Zamar) were arrested and charged in the boy's death. Prosecutors concluded that Linder was the driver of the pickup truck who pulled out a gun and shot Banks. Banks then pulled out his own gun and fired back at Linder, while Damar Jones also fired the gun after Banks dropped it, prosecutors said.

Investigators concluded that Zamar was hit by the bullet fired by Banks.

In 2023, Damar Jones pleaded guilty to three counts of weapons possession and was sentenced to three to six years in prison. Banks also pleaded guilty last year to attempted murder and other related offenses. He is scheduled to be sentenced next month, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.