Exonerated Philadelphia Man Sentenced for 2023 Murder After $4.1M Settlement for Wrongful Conviction

Shaurn Thomas, once freed after 24 years of wrongful imprisonment, pleaded guilty to killing Akeem Edwards over a $1,200 drug debt.

Shaurn Thomas, 50, was exonerated in 2017 after serving 24 years for a 1992 murder conviction that was overturned due to investigative flaws.
Thomas received a $4.1 million settlement from Philadelphia for his wrongful imprisonment after his release.
In January 2023, Thomas shot and killed Akeem Edwards, 38, over an unpaid $1,200 debt related to a drug deal involving cocaine.
Thomas pleaded guilty to third-degree murder, conspiracy, and illegal gun possession charges and will be sentenced in February 2025.
The family of Akeem Edwards has expressed hope that Thomas will face a life sentence for the killing.