Milan Jones murder: Temple University student Tymir Lackey charged with murder of another student in North Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — A Temple University student is in custody after allegedly killing another student in North Philadelphia.

Around 4 a.m. Saturday morning, officers responded to a reported medical emergency in the 1400 block of Willington Street.

Inside they found the body of a 20-year-old woman who reportedly suffered from blunt force trauma.

Officers identified the woman as nursing student Milan Jones of Philadelphia.

“The loss of this promising young woman is a tragedy that will deeply affect her fellow students as well as our faculty and staff,” Temple said in a statement Sunday.

Investigators believe her death was a murder or a domestic incident.

Police arrested 21-year-old Tymir Lackey of Philadelphia in connection with the case.

Lackey is charged with murder and related offenses and has been suspended from the university.

Milan was supposed to start her third year in the nursing program this fall.

For faculty and staff, Temple’s Employee Assistance Program offers support and resources 24 hours a day, 7 days a week online or by phone at 1-888-267-8126. Staff and students can also contact Temple’s Psychological Services Center at [email protected] or 215-204-7100.

Read the university’s full statement below:

“We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of third-year nursing student Milan Jones. The loss of this promising young woman is a tragedy that will deeply affect her fellow students as well as our faculty and staff.

Milan was supposed to start her third year in the College of Public Health’s nursing program this fall. She enjoyed helping and caring for others, and her decision to pursue a career in nursing reflects just that. There’s no doubt that she had a very bright future ahead of her, which makes it especially hard to break this news to her.

The Philadelphia Police Department (PPD) is the lead investigative agency and the Temple University Police Department is assisting in the investigation. A suspect, who is also a Temple student, was immediately arrested by the PPD at the scene. The PPD stated that this was a domestic incident. Today, the suspect was charged with murder and related offenses. He has been suspended from the university, effective immediately.

Temple University is committed to supporting our community during this time of unspeakable loss. We encourage students to take advantage of the available support services at Tuttleman Counseling Services, located at 1700 N. Broad St., which offers a range of resources. For more information about services and hours of operation, call 215-204-7276 or visit the Tuttleman Counseling Services website.

For faculty and staff, our Employee Assistance Program offers 24/7 support and resources online or by phone at 1-888-267-8126. Staff and students can also contact Temple’s Psychological Services Center at [email protected] or 215-204-7100.

Domestic violence is heinous in any form. If you or someone you know needs help, there are resources available on campus and across the country to support you or those you care about. Your safety and well-being are our top priority.

Members of the Temple community can seek domestic violence support from the Wellness Resource Center ([email protected] or 215-204-8436), the university’s Title IX Coordinator ([email protected] or 215-204-3283), or the National Domestic Violence Hotline (1-800-799-SAFE (7233). For more information, visit the Department of Health and Wellness website.

Our thoughts and deepest condolences go out to those closest to Milan. We will miss them greatly. Together, we can rely on the strength of our Temple community and support one another through this senseless tragedy.”