Nearly a year after his daughter Rachel Elizabeth King was fatally shot at a Dunkin’ drive-thru, her father said it’s been exhausting to listen to the trial of two people accused of playing roles in her murder.
The Rev. Allen King Jr. said it has been emotionally exhausting to attend the trial, but he's glad to be at this stage as part of the healing process.
The Rev. King, a man of God, expressed that he's also human and has struggled with human emotion during the trial, emphasizing the importance of surrendering and submitting to the will of God.
Every day, the reverend and Rachel King’s friends have worn orange clothing or pinned orange ribbons to their clothes in memory of Rachel.
The reverend explained that they wear orange as a show of solidarity since it was Rachel’s favorite color.
Members of the King family are present in court as the trial for Julie Jean and Zakkee Alhakim unfolds, with prosecutors alleging that Jean orchestrated the killing of Rachel King and conspired with Alhakim, the triggerman.
Rachel King, a teacher at the Grover Cleveland Mastery Charter School in Philadelphia for 10 years, was fatally shot in her vehicle at a Dunkin’ drive-thru on April 11, 2023.
Investigators found six 9mm fired cartridge casings in the area where Alhakim had been standing when he allegedly shot at King’s vehicle.
Rachel King was on her way to take her 11-year-old son, Jalen, to a violin practice when she stopped at the Dunkin’ store and was attacked. Fortunately, her son was unharmed.
Jurors watched a video statement from Jalen, who was clutching a stuffed teddy bear, as he spoke to child social workers after witnessing his mother’s death.
The Rev. King expressed that dealing with his daughter’s death was a process, but seeing what his grandson went through was particularly difficult.
He mentioned that Jalen is doing remarkably well, attributing it to prayer and the support of many people, and emphasized the belief in the power of prayer.
Jean, 35, from the 7600 block of Washington Lane, Elkins Park, is believed to be the mastermind behind the plan, and Alhakim, 34, from Philadelphia, is thought to be the one who carried out the killing. They are facing first- and third-degree murder charges, as well as conspiracy to commit murder and other related charges in relation to the death of Rachel King. The trial in front of Judge William R. Carpenter is expected to conclude on Thursday.
Prosecutors described the murder as a paid killing.
The investigation found that Jean had a romantic relationship with Rachel King’s long-time boyfriend, William Hayes, in 2022. When Hayes ended the relationship, Jean continued to send messages, call, and harass both King and Hayes. This led to Hayes obtaining a Protection From Abuse Order against Jean in December 2022, according to prosecutors.
Prosecutors argued that Jean wanted revenge on Hayes for ending their relationship and planned with Alhakim to kill King, whom she saw as a romantic rival.
During the trial, defense attorney Shaka M. Johnson, who represents Jean, suggested that the prosecution’s case was based on “guesswork” and advised the jurors to scrutinize the prosecution’s evidence.
Defense attorney Benjamin Cooper suggested that prosecutors lack physical evidence, such as DNA or a gun, to connect Alhakim to the murder.
According to detectives, it was determined through witness accounts and surveillance footage that King’s car was followed from her residence in the Lynnewood Gardens Apartments by a silver Mercury Sable, which authorities traced back to Alhakim. As King pulled into the Dunkin’ drive-thru, Alhakim parked a short distance away, approached King’s car window, and shot her multiple times before returning to his vehicle and fleeing, as alleged by prosecutors.
The investigation revealed that Alhakim and Jean were acquainted through a mutual friend and had been communicating and meeting frequently since February 2023 leading up to the murder. The Mercury Sable was acquired by Alhakim on March 30 and was purchased in Jean’s name, according to testimonies.
On Wednesday, county Detective Gregory Henry stated that he and Cheltenham Detective Ryan Murray interviewed Alhakim on April 12, and initially, he denied knowing Jean and only admitted to knowing her when confronted with the evidence showing that he had purchased the Mercury Sable in her name. However, Alhakim denied being in Cheltenham or driving the Sable on the morning that King was murdered.
County Detective Heather Long testified on Wednesday that she interviewed Jean on April 12. At that time, Jean denied giving any money to the salesman for the Mercury Sable.
Jurors heard the audio recordings of the statements given by Jean and Alhakim.
An expert in historical call detail records, Long, said that info from Alhakim’s phone showed the phone was near King’s home early on April 11 and at the Dunkin’ store when the shooting happened.
Investigators found a screenshot on Alhakim’s phone with a map showing King’s home and a red route leading to the victim’s residence.
On Alhakim’s phone, detectives found a collage of King's photos and another screenshot of a photo of King on Jean’s phone, according to court documents.
A photo of a Polymer P80 ghost gun, matching the believed murder weapon, was also discovered on Alhakim’s phone, as testified.
The ghost gun was not found. Alhakim denied owning a gun when questioned by detectives.
After the shooting, surveillance images of the silver Mercury Sable were released and the public was asked to help identify the owner. Detectives later connected the vehicle to a previous shooting and homicide, with Alhakim being a suspect in that case.
Police in Philadelphia found 11 fired 9mm cartridge casings at the scene of an April 7 murder.
On April 13, a comparison of the 9mm cartridge casings from the Cheltenham and Philadelphia homicide scenes indicated the same gun was used in both incidents, as stated in the criminal complaint.
Alhakim is also charged with homicide in connection with the April 7 incident in Philadelphia.
Philadelphia police arrested Alhakim on April 11, just hours after King’s murder, while he was driving the Mercury Sable.
