19-year-old pleads guilty in Roxborough High shooting that killed Nicolas Elizalde

PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — One of the shooters accused in the deadly Roxborough High School shooting two years ago pleaded guilty Wednesday morning.

Now 19 years old, Zyheid Jones admitted to being one of the gunmen who shot and killed 14-year-old Nicolas Elizalde in September 2022.

Prosecutors say Jones and four others drove a stolen Ford Explorer to the Roxborough High School football field and opened fire after a scrimmage. Four other boys, ages 14 to 15, were injured in the shooting.

Prosecutors say they pulled surveillance video showing the exact path of travel of the SUV, including at a gas station on Ridge Avenue. They say they tied the defendants together through records and the car’s infotainment system, which linked all the defendants traveling to and from the scene together, as well as their texts with each other.

Prosecutor Ashley Toczylowski says at the scene, they found a marijuana bag with Jones’ DNA on it.

“His DNA was a hit on the bag that was discarded right where the suspect’s vehicle was when all the shooters got out and opened fire,” Toczylowski said.

Jones pleaded guilty to two counts of third-degree murder, four counts of attempted murder, and gun charges. He is set to be sentenced in December but will not face life in prison.

Jones also admitted to being one of the shooters who killed 19-year-old Tahmir Jones — no relation — the day before.

During the hearing, the court said Jones and some other defendants met with Elizalde’s mother Meredith at some point, but what was said during that meeting is unclear.

Jones is the first to plead guilty — prosecutors say other defendants are considering the same.