Second Suspect Arrested, Charged in Rittenhouse Shooting

Mehdi Fraiji (left) and Raeese Nasir have been arrested and charged in connection to October’s Rittenhouse shooting. Photos courtesy of Philadelphia Police.

Philadelphia police have arrested and charged a second suspect in connection with the Rittenhouse shooting that occurred in late October, in which 17-year-old Mehdi Fraiji allegedly shot a bicyclist who tried to intervene during the teens’ attempted robbery.

Raeese Nasir, 18, who police said turned himself in on October 31st, has been charged with attempted murder, criminal conspiracy, aggravated assault, robbery and related offenses. Fraiji turned himself in on October 22nd.

Police said Nasir and Fraiji approached a couple in the park shortly after 9 p.m. on October 18th and announced an armed robbery. When a 39-year-old bicyclist saw what was happening and attempted to intervene, Fraiji took a gun from Nasir and shot him multiple times, police said. Both then fled.

Lt. John Stanford told the Inquirer that the couple was familiar with Fraiji and that they knew him by nickname. Fraiji was charged as an adult with attempted murder, aggravated assault, robbery, firearms violations and related offenses.

The victim was rushed to Hahnemann University Hospital after the shooting. He survived.

The shooting brought cries of alarm from some who were disturbed by gun violence in the busy park, located in one of the city’s wealthiest areas.

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