Philadelphia man sentenced to life in prison for first-degree murder

Damir Richardson will spend the rest of his life in prison after a jury convicted him of first-degree murder.

According to the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office, Richardson fired his gun into a vehicle on January 14, 2022, in Germantown. Bullets hit 17-year-old Carissa Bright and she died from her injuries.

Philadelphia Police Homicide Detectives believe that Bright’s boyfriend, who was seated next to her, was the intended target.

Hours after killing Bright, the DA’s office says Richardson drove to Gloucester Township, New Jersey, and fired shots at his ex-girlfriend’s home. The shell casings from the Gloucester Township shooting matched the ones from the Germantown crime scene.

Richardson was arrested on July 23, 2022, after being extradited from California. The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office says he fled there following the two shootings.

“I thank Philadelphia Police Detectives John Maha, Thorsten Lucke, and Gloucester Police Detective Marc Grodzielanek for conducting such a thorough investigation,” said Assistant District Attorney Lauren Crump. “I’m also glad that this collaboration with our law enforcement partners helped build a strong case so that we could deliver justice for Carissa Bright’s loved ones and friends.”

Richardson’s life sentence has no possibility of parole.

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