PHILADELPHIA — A Philadelphia man has been sentenced to 15 to 40 years in prison for the fatal shooting of an 11-year-old boy riding a scooter in Northeast Philadelphia in 2021.
Prosecutors say Khaleek Baldwin, now 24, opened fire along McKinley Street in the Oxford Circle neighborhood in March 2021 after inserting himself into a dispute between teenagers.
According to investigators, Harley Belance, 11, was riding a motorized scooter when his 14-year-old friend jumped on the back while arguing with a group of other kids. Prosecutors said Baldwin then fired multiple shots down the crowded residential street.
Belance was shot in the back, while his friend was struck in the arm and leg.
The young boy died in his friend’s arms, prosecutors said, calling the tragedy a case of “wrong place, wrong time.”
During the sentencing hearing, Belance’s mother shared a letter describing her son as a joyful child who loved playing basketball and riding bikes.
She wrote that Harley often told her,
“Mommy, every time I smile, I get something for free.”
Prosecutors told the court that after the shooting, the family moved to Florida, hoping to rebuild their lives. Tragically, while living there, their other son was later murdered.
Baldwin addressed the court and apologized to the family, saying he knows his apology cannot undo the pain caused by the shooting. He told the judge he is “not a monster or a bad person.”
However, prosecutors outlined Baldwin’s violent history, noting he has accumulated nearly a dozen prison infractions for fighting.
Judge Scott O’Keefe sentenced Baldwin to 15 to 40 years behind bars. In addition to the prison sentence, the judge ordered Baldwin to participate in anger management programs, job training, and mental health services while incarcerated.