CENTER CITY — Police are continuing to search for the suspects who fatally shot 77-year-old Uber driver Olatunji Bolaji outside the Byblos Restaurant and Hookah Lounge in Center City Philadelphia on April 16, 2025. A $20,000 reward is being offered for information leading to an arrest and conviction in the case, which has remained unsolved for more than a year.

Bolaji was working as an Uber driver and waiting for a passenger outside the restaurant on the 100 block of South 18th Street at 2 a.m. when the shooting occurred. The incident was captured on surveillance video.

The passenger, a 22-year-old man, hugged people before getting into Bolaji's black SUV. Two suspects then ran up and fought with the passenger before firing four shots. The passenger was shot three times and has since recovered.

Bolaji was struck in the head by a bullet and managed to drive away from the scene. Minutes later, his vehicle hit a light pole on the 700 block of Chestnut Street. He died from his injuries.

John Appledorn, President of the Citizens Crime Commission, described the police response. "Police get a call of a person with a gun. In the area of 7200 Chestnut Street they locate a white Chevy van that just hit a light pole."

Investigators recovered shell casings of two different calibers at the scene of the shooting. "At the scene was found 9 mm casings, and 140 caliber casing," Appledorn said.

A $20,000 reward is available for anyone who provides information leading to an arrest and conviction in the case. All calls offering information will remain anonymous. Anyone with knowledge of the shooting is asked to contact authorities.