Investigators say an arranged watch sale on West Queen Lane turned into a shootout that killed a 30-year-old man and a 16-year-old boy.
PHILADELPHIA, PA — A man and a teenager were killed Tuesday after gunfire erupted during an arranged sale of a Rolex watch in Philadelphia’s Germantown neighborhood, police said. The shooting began around 5:11 p.m. on the 500 block of West Queen Lane, and the shooter and other involved parties fled before officers arrived.
Police identified the victims as 30-year-old Tyree Ware and 16-year-old Qua’Neef Lee, both from Germantown. Detectives said Ware had recently advertised a Rolex for sale online and drove to meet Lee and another male at the location. Within minutes, an argument inside or near Ware’s Nissan Maxima spilled into the street and a burst of gunfire followed. Both victims were taken to Temple University Hospital, where Ware was pronounced at 5:34 p.m. and Lee at 5:42 p.m. Homicide detectives are reviewing surveillance video and interviewing witnesses as they search for at least two people who left the scene.
Investigators said at least 11 shots were fired and as many as three guns were used. Surveillance footage from a nearby store shows Ware falling to the pavement next to his Nissan; a man then approaches and fires twice into his chest as he lies in the street, according to police. Lee was found near the rear of the car with a chest wound. A 9 mm handgun was recovered on the roadway next to Ware, and police said he had a permit to carry. Detectives are still searching for two additional weapons believed to have been used and are working to determine who fired first as they piece together the full sequence of events from video and ballistic evidence.
Authorities said Ware arrived with an unidentified man who briefly went into a nearby store while the transaction took place. That companion left before officers secured the scene and has not been located. Investigators are also seeking the unidentified male who stood with Lee during the meeting and was seen fleeing after shots were fired. No arrests had been announced as of Wednesday night. Police said several nearby businesses turned over footage, including a clip that captures part of the confrontation and the moments immediately after. Detectives are also canvassing for additional cameras along West Queen Lane and Laurens Street and are awaiting forensic results on shell casings and the recovered handgun.
The violence rattled a well-traveled stretch of Germantown where small shops sit close to rowhouses and bus stops. Outside the Queen Lane Mini Market, owner Cornelio Mezquita said he recognized the teen from the neighborhood. “I’ve been here for 21 years. That boy feels like he’s family,” Mezquita said. A relative of Lee, who asked not to be named, said he would have turned 17 next week. “He didn’t hurt nobody,” she said. “I’m so lost.” Detectives said both families have been notified and victim services teams were assigned to assist them through the investigation and funeral planning.
Police described the case as an attempted robbery tied to a private-sale meetup that spiraled into a shootout. They said the gunfire began within moments of the parties arriving and escalated quickly across the front of several storefronts. Ware’s silver Nissan Maxima remained at the scene with bullet strikes visible along the driver’s side, investigators said. The incident drew dozens of residents who gathered behind crime-scene tape as officers searched for bullets and mapped trajectories using laser measurements. By nightfall, homicide detectives had collected multiple 9 mm and .40-caliber casings and were cataloging them for comparison testing.
As of Tuesday, the city had recorded just over 200 homicides this year, a pace below last year’s count, according to police. Detectives said the Germantown case remains a priority because it involves a teenager and unfolded during the late-afternoon rush, when foot traffic is high. Officials said they plan to release additional still images from surveillance video once investigators finish enhancing the footage. The Medical Examiner’s Office will determine the exact causes and manner of death following autopsies expected later this week. No charging documents had been filed as of Wednesday; police said any arrests would be announced after consultation with prosecutors.
Detectives said the immediate next steps include confirming the identities of the two men who were not at the scene when officers arrived, tracing the recovered handgun, and completing interviews with witnesses who were inside nearby businesses at the time. Investigators are also examining online posts related to the advertised Rolex listing and seeking records from messaging apps used to arrange the meetup. Additional updates are expected after surveillance reviews and lab tests are complete and once investigators determine whether the watch changed hands before or during the shooting.
By late Wednesday, officers had cleared the block and reopened West Queen Lane to traffic. Evidence markers were gone, but shop owners were still sweeping glass from sidewalks and resetting displays. “A very, very quiet area,” Mezquita said. “It’s really sad.” Family members placed flowers near the curb where police said Ware fell, while neighbors lit candles for Lee a few feet away. Residents lingered, speaking in low voices about a meeting that began as a sale and ended as a double homicide.
Police said the shooter and at least one other person remain at large. Investigators plan to release additional information once autopsies and video analyses are complete later this week. No arrests had been announced by Wednesday night.
Author note: Last updated December 10, 2025.