Sergio Hyland, a vocal advocate for criminal justice reform in Pennsylvania who previously spent two decades in prison for two killings, has been arrested and charged with the murder of a Philadelphia mother of two.
The arrest of the self-described “hood abolitionist” came as a surprise to many, particularly given his recent endorsement of Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner, a fellow proponent of a more lenient justice system.
Hyland, a former organizer for the left-leaning Working Families Party, was apprehended on April 17 and faces charges of murder and illegal gun possession, according to court records.
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Just eight days prior to his arrest, Hyland publicly voiced his support for Krasner’s reelection campaign in a Working Families Party statement, praising the District Attorney’s “unwavering commitment to transformative criminal justice reform.”
“His initiatives to end mass incarceration, eliminate cash bail for nonviolent offenses, and hold law enforcement accountable for bad actions resonate deeply with our mission to advocate for policies that promote equity and justice for all Pennsylvanians,” Hyland stated, as reported by the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Krasner had previously expressed his appreciation for the endorsement. However, following Hyland’s arrest, the District Attorney’s office issued a statement to the Philadelphia Inquirer, asserting that it “worked closely with the Philadelphia Police Department to charge Hyland in this matter and will be vigorously prosecuting him to the fullest extent of the law.”
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Hyland is accused of fatally shooting a Philadelphia mother of two in the head in July 2024. The motive for the alleged crime remains unknown. This is not Hyland’s first encounter with the justice system.
Court records indicate he served 20 years in prison in connection to two separate killings that occurred in 2002 and 2004. Additional charges filed against Hyland include tampering with or fabricating physical evidence, owning a firearm without a license, and other firearm-related offenses. He was denied bail on April 18.
Following his arrest, Hyland reportedly resigned from his position at the Working Families Party. Neither the law firm representing Hyland nor the Pennsylvania Working Families Party has yet issued a public statement regarding the charges.
Prior to his arrest, Hyland operated a personal website where he offered speaking engagements and consultations aimed at guiding individuals through the criminal justice process, as well as “violence reduction/prevention” services. The website’s front page prominently featured his mentorship under Russell Maroon Shoatz, a former member of the Black Panther Party and Black Liberation Army who was convicted of murdering a police sergeant.
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In a February article published by the local nonprofit Resolve Philly, Hyland stated that his time with Shoatz inspired him to advocate for the abolition of prisons. Discussing gun violence prevention in the same article, Hyland emphasized the need for community building, stating, “We have to show people that you don’t have to be afraid of each other. I’m not your enemy.”
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