On Tuesday evening, what began as an online transaction ended in tragedy for two individuals in Philadelphia’s Germantown neighborhood. 30-year-old Tyree Ware and 16-year-old Quaneef (Qua’Neef) Lee lost their lives in a violent confrontation after arranging to meet over a Rolex watch sale, authorities say.
Police responded shortly after 5:00 p.m. to the 500 block of West Queen Lane — near Laurens Street — where bystanders reported gunfire. When officers arrived, they found Ware near the open driver’s side of his 2016 silver Nissan Maxima, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Lee was discovered at the rear of that same vehicle, struck in the chest.
Both victims were rushed to Temple University Hospital, but medics pronounced them dead within the hour — Ware at roughly 5:30 p.m., and Lee around 5:42 p.m.
Investigators believe the meet-up was meant to facilitate a private sale: Ware had advertised the Rolex online and had driven to the meeting to complete the deal. According to police, a shootout erupted at some point during the encounter — with two firearms reportedly used and 11 shell casings recovered at the scene, including evidence of both a handgun and a rifle.
Authorities recovered a 9 mm handgun next to Ware’s body; he reportedly had a permit to carry. But as of now, police have not confirmed who pulled the trigger. No arrests have been made. The individual who accompanied Lee fled south on Laurens Street, and remains at large.
The homicide unit of the Philadelphia Police Department has taken over the case. Detectives are combing through surveillance footage, canvassing for witnesses, and following up on any leads — urging anyone with information, no matter how small, to contact them.
As the Germantown community reels from the losses of a young man and a teen, residents and officials alike are reflecting on the risks tied to private exchanges born online. The tragic outcome of this transaction has stirred renewed calls for caution — especially when dealing with high-value items in unsupervised settings.
The investigation remains ongoing. For now, two families mourn, a neighborhood wonders how things went so wrong — and the city awaits answers.
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