Jordan Lewis, also known as John, will be charged with murder in the shooting of Officer Chuck Cassidy.
Suspect in Cassidy case is expected back today
Shackled hand and foot and accompanied by five armed Philadelphia homicide detectives, 21-year-old Jordan Lewis is scheduled to return today to face a murder charge in the Oct. 31 shooting of Police Officer Chuck Cassidy.
Contact staff writer Barbara Boyer at 215-854-2641 or bboyer@phillynews.com.
Barring last-minute changes, Lewis and his police escort will board a commercial flight in Miami expected to land at Philadelphia International Airport about 4:30 p.m.
But a glimpse of his Logan neighborhood from the plane is likely the closest Lewis will get to his home for some time - if ever.
Once on the ground, Lewis will be transferred to the custody of Philadelphia prison officials while the charges against him start making their way through the criminal-justice system.
Prosecutors have not decided whether they will seek the death penalty, said Cathie Abookire, spokeswoman for District Attorney Lynne M. Abraham.
Abookire said prosecutors believed that the shooting involved two "aggravating factors" needed under state law to ask a jury to condemn a defendant to death: killing a police officer who was performing his duty and killing during a felony.
Lewis, a baby-faced man who stands 6 feet and weighs 270 pounds, is accused of shooting Cassidy, 54, when the 25-year veteran officer walked in on a morning robbery at the Dunkin' Donuts on Broad Street in West Oak Lane.
On Saturday, after police announced that Lewis was wanted in the shooting and published his photograph, he fled the city.
Authorities allege that a cousin, Hakim Glover, 29, of North Philadelphia, drove Lewis to Wilmington on Saturday and bought him a bus ticket to Miami.
Lewis' freedom was short-lived. After his 30-hour bus ride ended at the Greyhound terminal in Miami at 10:45 p.m. Sunday, the fugitive made his way 10 blocks to a homeless men's shelter by Monday afternoon.
By 6:30 a.m. Tuesday, he was in the custody of Miami police after an alert staffer at the Miami Rescue Mission recognized Lewis from television news and called 911.
Lewis, also known as John Lewis and Lewis Jordan, confessed to Philadelphia detectives Tuesday. He confirmed that to reporters that night, apologizing to Cassidy's family.
Also Tuesday, police in Philadelphia charged Glover with obstruction of justice and hindering arrest; he, too, is being held without bail.
The way was cleared for Lewis' return after he waived extradition and Philadelphia detectives wrapped up their investigation yesterday, interviewing Miami residents who had contact with the suspect.
Philadelphia Police Sgt. William Britt praised the tipster and Miamians for their cooperation: "The police are always there for the community. It was nice to see the community there for the police."
The investigation in Philadelphia continues.
Abookire said no decision had been made about the possibility of charges against Lewis' mother, Lynn M. Dyches, a city prison corrections officer.
Authorities say they missed capturing Lewis by 30 minutes Saturday when they arrived at Dyches' house on Roosevelt Boulevard. Dyches, whose gun was missing, reportedly told police that she did not know her son's whereabouts.
Yesterday, additional details about Lewis' movements last Friday and Saturday became public with the police report filed in Glover's arrest.
After Lewis confessed to his cousin that he had shot Cassidy, police say, Lewis told his cousin that he would blast his way through more police if he had to and brandished two handguns.
Glover told police that he had driven Lewis to Wilmington and bought him the bus ticket. He also said Lewis had hidden two 9mm guns in the ceiling tiles of Glover's home in Hunting Park, where police found them.
Authorities have confirmed that one weapon was Cassidy's 9mm Glock, stolen from him after he was shot. Police said they believed the other was the murder weapon, but were awaiting ballistics tests. The gun had been reported stolen in Virginia, and police say they do not know how Lewis allegedly got the weapon.
For previous coverage, go to http://go.philly.com/
shooting
Contact staff writer Barbara Boyer at 215-854-2641 or bboyer@phillynews.com.
