Police: Montco shooting victim mistaken for another

Police say they believe a case of mistaken identity is behind the shooting of rookie NFL running back Curtis Brinkley as he waited to pick up his sister from work early July 10 in Elkins Park.

The accused gunman, Anthony Peterson Jr., thought he was targeting a suitor of Brinkley's sister when he fired three rounds at Brinkley, who sat in a parked car, police said. Brinkley's sister was identified as Peterson's girlfriend and the mother of his 1-year-old son, according to court papers.

Doctors were unable to remove all of the bullet because of its proximity to Brinkley's heart, court papers said. It was not known whether the former Philadelphia high school star and Syracuse University standout will be able to fulfill his two-year free-agent contract with the San Diego Chargers, a former coach said.

"His agent's been talking to him," said Brian Fluck, Brinkley's coach at West Catholic High School. "He's on the 'not able to perform' list until they see where his progress goes."

On Saturday, police arrested Peterson, 23, of 19th and Pacific Streets in the Tioga section of Philadelphia, after he surrendered to Cheltenham Township police.

Peterson was charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault, and receiving stolen property, the latter for allegedly stealing the revolver used in the shooting, police said.

Peterson was arraigned before District Judge Christopher Cerski, who denied bail. Peterson was being held in the Montgomery County Correctional Facility for a preliminary hearing Aug. 19.

An affidavit attached to the criminal complaint gives an account of events just after midnight July 9 in the 7700 block of Spring Avenue.

Peterson had argued with the player's sister, Niveka Cason, over a man, identified as Jamal Hinson, whom she was seeing. Peterson also called Hinson that night to challenge him about the relationship, the papers said.

Hinson offered to pick up Cason after work at an adult-care center, but she had already called Brinkley. When Brinkley arrived, Peterson was lurking behind bushes on Chapel Road with a clear view of Spring Avenue.

Two of the three rounds fired from a .357 Magnum revolver lodged in the car. The other hit Brinkley in the shoulder area before going deeper into his chest. He was treated at Albert Einstein Medical Center.

Hinson told police that he got a text message from Peterson several days later. "I got the wrong one last time, but I didn't forget about you," the text said.

Detectives who combed the lawn and leaf bags from the Chapel Road area at the township dump recovered the revolver, the papers said, and ballistic tests showed that the .357 was the weapon used to shoot Brinkley.

"It's not even like he was at the wrong place at the wrong time," Fluck said. "He wasn't going to a party. He was helping out, picking up his sister. People get crazy sometimes and do things that are stupid."

Fluck said Brinkley was recovering at the home of his grandmother and was about to begin physical therapy. No one answered the phone at the home yesterday.

The Chargers did not return a call or e-mail yesterday. A statement posted on the team's Web site said it would have no comment while the police were investigating.

In his high school career at Roxborough and then West Catholic, Brinkley became the city's all-time rusher and was lauded as a statewide offensive player of the year.

As a senior at Syracuse, Brinkley gained 1,164 yards, averaging 4.9 yards per carry, and scored seven touchdowns. He was named to the All-Big East second team.

Brinkley hoped to be drafted by an NFL team, but was not. After the April draft, Fluck said, Brinkley received calls from the Chargers and the Eagles. He chose the Chargers because the deal was better, Fluck said.