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Published on May 09, 2024
Philadelphia Community Mourns Olney High School Teacher Ondria Glaze, Victim of Murder-Suicide in Grays FerrySource: GoFundMe/Olney High School

Tragedy struck the Grays Ferry neighborhood of Philadelphia when Ondria Glaze, a 36-year-old special education compliance monitor and teacher at Olney High School, was killed in what authorities are deeming a murder-suicide inside a home on South 30th Street, FOX29 reported.

At approximately 1:14 p.m. on Monday, Philadelphia police responding to an apartment at the 1300 block of South 30th Street found Glaze with a fatal gunshot wound to the face, nearby, Rick Harper, 42, had a gunshot wound to the head believed to be self-inflicted, this gruesome scene prompting investigations that led officers to believe Harper shot Glaze then turned the gun on himself, according to a statement obtained by NBC Philadelphia.

The devastating loss of Ms. Glaze sent ripples through the Olney High School community where she spent over a decade impacting lives; a student, Joseph Peralta, told 6ABC, "She was, honestly, not even a friend, more like a sister to all of us," In a heartfelt tribute, a memorial adorned with notes, flowers, and pictures emerged outside her office, spontaneously crafted by students to honor the educator who was a fixture of support within their midst.

Though her absence leaves a void, the school community seeks to preserve Glaze's legacy; a GoFundMe has been established aiming to create a scholarship fund in her honor, Principal Michael Roth communicated plans to give out an annual award to a deserving graduating senior who emulates Ms. Glaze’s spirit, "Olney Love" as he expounded in a letter earlier this week, also a vigil being set to honor the beloved teacher on May 13 at 6:15 p.m., 6ABC disclosed.