A triple shooting left one man dead in Northeast Philadelphia earlier today.
Police spokeswoman Officer Jillian Russell said gunfire rang out inside the Irish Kitchen, a bar on Pratt Street near Oakland, at about 1:30 a.m.
Dallas Custalow, 25, of Anchor Street near Saul, was wounded once in the back. He died a short while later at Temple University Hospital, Russell said.
A 20-year-old man was shot once in the head, and was listed in critical condition at Albert Einstein Medical Center. A 30-year-old man who was wounded once in the leg was in stable condition at Hahnemann University Hospital.
Russell said police had no suspects in the bar shooting.
In a strange twist of fate, today marked the second time that tragedy fell upon the Custalow family. On Feb. 23, Custalow’s father, also named Dallas Custalow, died after a violent attack.
Police charged a neighbor on Anchor Street, Michael Bocchinfuso, 44, with using a shovel and trash can to bludgeon the elder Custalow, 71.
A 17-year-old wanted for robbing and shooting a West Philadelphia bodega employee last month was captured by police in Bristol earlier today.
Tipsters told cops that Isiah Baldwin, of 58th Street near Catharine, was hiding out in Bucks County, said Lt. John Walker of Southwest Detectives.
On May 12, Baldwin walked into the Venture Papi Grocery Store, at 58th Street and Washington Avenue, and asked a 35-year-old employee to show him where the laundry detergent was kept, Walker said.
Minutes later, the teen opened fire and wounded the male employee several times, Walker said. A few days after the incident, police released surveillance footage that showed a gun-toting Baldwin robbing the store.
The employee, whose name has not been released, is still in a medically-induced coma, he added. Charges against Baldwin in the bodega case are pending. Walker said the teen is currently being held in Bristol on two other open arrest warrants from unrelated cases. He will eventually be transported back to Philadelphia. where he's had numerous brushes with the law, Walker said.
Four people have been hospitalized after a motorist crashed into a taxi, causing it to jump a curb and strike two pedestrians in Center City tonight, police said.
The collision occurred about 10 p.m. in front of the Kimmel Center on Broad Street near Spruce, when the driver of a red Nissan, driving southbound, tried to merge in the right lane, slamming into a Victory cab, police said.
The driver of the cab then swerved, jumped the curb and struck two people, one of whom was riding a bicycle, police said.
One of the pedestrians were taken to Thomas Jefferson University Hospital where he's listed in critical condition. The three others, whose conditions are unknown, are at Hahnemann University Hospital.
Traffic was blocked off from Walnut Street to Pine in both directions. The taxi sat in the middle of both southbound lanes as if it had spun around.
The right side of the cab was smashed, the rear passenger door hung off its hinges. A sea of shattered glass surrounded the vehicle and chunks of a nearby light pole littered the sidewalk near the scene of the accident.
- David Gambacorta & Dafney Tales
A pair of 16th District patrol cops wounded an armed man in West Philadelphia earlier tonight.
Police spokesman Lt. Frank Vanore said the officers responded to a report of gunshots and a person with a gun on Otter Street near 42nd at about 7:45 p.m. Neighbors directed the cops to a man standing in the doorway of a rowhouse.
The cops asked the man to show his hands. Vanore said the man "produced a revolver" and both officers opened fire. The man, whose name and age have not yet been released, was wounded and taken into custody, he said. Police recovered the revolver. The wounded man was taken to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in critical condition.
Members of the Internal Affairs Bureau are investigating the incident, Vanore added.
Update: Vanore said the 55-year-old man was pronounced dead at HUP at 8:49 p.m. His name has not yet been released. This was the 11th fatal police-involved shooting of the year, Vanore added.
Police have identified two men wanted in connection with a triple shooting that left one woman dead in Southwest Philadelphia yesterday.
Aaron Parker, 37, who also uses the alias Dan Cooper, allegedly opened fire on a crowd of people standing in front of a rowhouse at 53rd Street near Chester Avenue at about 4 p.m. Nyesha Whitney, 23, was killed, and two of her relatives were wounded.
Parker, of Belmar Terrace near 55th Street, is wanted on murder charges. Police are also searching for Jamir "June" Jackson, 37, who is wanted on a charge of solicitation to commit murder. Jackson lives on Litchfield Street near 55th.
According to Dafney's acount in today's Daily News, the triple shooting was the result of a fatal family feud that began last summer, when Nyesha Whitney's cousin, Craig Whitney, allegedly gunned down Anthony Jackson, who is related to Jamir Jackson .
Click here to read the recap.
There might not have been a happier man in the city on Father’s Day than Howard Williams.
The 81-year-old went out to breakfast with his four daughters, then spent the rest of his day opening presents and laughing with his numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
“The day was going so good,” said his granddaughter, Kelly Williams. “He kept showing off a pair of shoes that one of his friends brought him from Mexico. He was so happy.”
About 9 that night, Williams went to Broad and Olney to wait for a SEPTA bus. He wanted to visit a few more relatives in North Philly before drawing a perfect Father’s Day to a close, his granddaughter said.
But police said a cruel twist of fate arrived a few minutes later in the form of a gold-colored Chevrolet sedan, which slammed into Williams when he stepped off a curb to see if his bus was nearby.
Relatives said the sedan dragged Williams for a block. The motorist sped off and left the beloved patriarch in a bloodied heap on the ground.
Williams, of 17th Street near 67th in West Oak Lane, is listed in critical condition at Albert Einstein Medical Center with numerous broken ribs and internal bleeding.
Kelly Williams said doctors had to remove her grandfather’s spleen on Monday, and also reattached his right ear, which was torn off during the violent accident.
“It’s not looking too good. He’s on a breathing machine,” she said.
“He’s a happy person who gets along well with everybody. He doesn’t deserve this.”
Detectives from the police Accident Investigation Division seized a “vehicle of interest” earlier today that was found on Fisher Avenue near Broad Street.
The vehicle was still being processed tonight. An investigator said no arrest warrants have been issued.
Tipsters can contact AID at 215-685-3180.
Williams said her grandfather is an active, outgoing man who frequently takes buses to visit his family, which includes 21 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren. “He loves to dance. If there’s a party, he’s there,” she said.
Police have charged a 21-year-old West Philadelphia man with robbing a bar and a liquor store at gunpoint earlier last week.
Timothy Scott, 21, of Ogden Street near 41st, was among three men who barged into the Caprice Villa Bar at 50th and Market streets on June 16, police said. One of the crooks toted an Uzi, while the other clutched a black handgun. The third man acted as a lookout. Cops said the three thieves made off with $310 in cash that night.
On June 17, Scott and another man robbed the Wine and Spirits Store on Lancaster Avenue near 46th at gunpoint, and made off with about $1,000 in cash, police said. Scott and his accomplice fled on a pair of bicycles.
Scott was arrested on Friday and charged with two counts of criminal conspiracy, robbery, aggravated assault and related offenses.
The driver of a minivan that was involved in a horrific three-car crash in Southwest Philadelphia on Friday died shortly after 7 this morning at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, police said.
Relatives said Bruce Hunter, 41, suffered an array of devastating injuries from the crash, including a crushed pelvis, broken arm, broken leg and collapsed lung. Hunter was married with five children, who ranged in age from 4 to 25.
The longtime West Philadelphia resident enjoyed coaching youth basketball teams, his family said. Hunter had planned on taking his kids to New York on Friday night for a weekend basketball tournament, but never made it home.
According to police, retired Brookhaven police officer Adam Brown lost control of his speeding Lamborghini on Essington Avenue near Bartram at about 6:30 p.m. Friday. The Lamborghini crossed into the opposite lane of traffic and struck Hunter's Mercury minivan and a Subaru Forester. The 45-year-old driver of the Subaru suffered minor injuries.
Brown, 29, and his passenger Geoffrey Kleiman, 60, died at the scene.
Nikina Lazenby made a tearful plea earlier today for the safe return of her 1-year-old son, Tremayne Peak, who police said vanished Monday night with a friend of Lazenby’s — whose own baby had been placed in foster care.
“It’s a hard thing when you don’t know where your child is,” Lazenby said, as tears rolled down her cheeks. “My son is only 1 year old, he’s defenseless, he can’t walk, he can’t do anything. I just want my son back.”
Late last night, she got her wish. Police said Tremayne was found, apparently unharmed, in Germantown, Md., following a bizarre, convoluted journey.
The boy’s kidnapper, Vanessa Perez, who is Lazenby’s friend, remained on the loose after she was spotted by authorities in Maryland, said Lt. John Walker of Southwest Detectives.
The dramatic tale began at 8 p.m. Monday, when Perez picked up Tremayne from Lazenby’s home on 41st Street near Girard Avenue in West Philadelphia, said Lt. John Walker of Southwest Detectives.
About 9 p.m. Lazenby called Perez and asked when she would be back with her baby. Perez said that she was close by and would arrive back shortly, Walker said.
But Perez never showed, and a frightened Lazenby called police.
Walker said Perez took Tremayne to a house in Mt. Airy, where she told a former lover that the boy was actually their offspring, said Lt. John Walker of Southwest Detectives.
Perez’ former beau, whose name was not released, bought the ruse and suggested that she and Tremayne drive with him down to his new home in Maryland, Walker said.
Before the newly-formed family left for Maryland, they posed for a picture that was taken by the sister of Perez’ former lover.
That photo proved to be Perez’ undoing. When Tremayne’s picture was televised on the news yesterday, the woman recognized him and called police.
Walker said police managed to get in touch with the man who was with Perez and Tremayne. He provided his address, and a Rockville, Md., FBI agent was sent to the house.
When Perez spotted the agent, she handed Tremayne over to her male companion and then fled in a black pick-up truck, Walker said.
The boy was taken to an area hospital for observation. It was unclear when he would be allowed to return to Philadelphia.
Walker said the FBI is expected to issue an arrest warrant for Perez on kidnapping charges. “She’s now a fugitive, and she will be processed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office,” he added.
Much of the following is from ace Daily News intern Morgan Zalot:
Turns out the shuffling thief who held up a Center City bank on Monday isn’t so elderly, after all.
Jerry Lee Stanton, who was arrested earlier today by FBI agents at the West Philadelphia personal care home where he lives, is actually 59 years old — not in his 70s, as law enforcement officials suggested earlier this week.
According to his old pals, Stanton is a sad and lonesome guy who might have viewed robbing a bank as a way out of his doldrums.
“I know he was depressed,” said James Smith, who lived with Stanton at the Walnut Manor, at 50th and Walnut streets.
Smith and a handful of other residents mulled over Stanton’s arrest as they huddled on a porch outside the Manor, which is actually a pair of rowhouses that provide shelter and care for 24 men.
“I know he ain’t coming back. It’s very depressed in here, [emotionally] and financially. He didn’t wanna listen to everyone. This wasn’t for him,” Smith said.
FBI officials said Stanton entered the Citizens Bank, at 20th and Market streets, shortly after 9:30 a.m. Monday.
Surveillance footage showed Stanton handing a dirty pillowcase to a bank teller and then demanding cash. He fled on foot after the teller met his demand.
Investigators took note of Stanton’s hunched shoulders, oversized large sunglasses and wrinkled face, and initially suggested that he was in his 60s or 70s.
The specter of a puttering, elderly bandit attracted widespread media attention.
Law enforcement sources said the FBI received a flurry of tip calls this morning, including one from a Daily News reader who recognized Stanton from a surveillance image that was featured on the front page of the paper.
The eagle-eyed reader told investigators where Stanton lived. About 10:30 a.m., several agents arrived at the Walnut Manor.
FBI spokeswoman Vicki Humphreys said Stanton was charged locally, not federally, with robbery and related offenses.
“We don’t charge every bank robber federally,” she said. “In this particular case, I’m not sure what was the deciding factor to charge him locally.” Donald James Leon Hill IV, 52, another resident of Walnut Manor, said he doesn’t believe Stanton perpetrated the robbery.
“It \[the photo and video\] didn’t look like him,” Hill said, adding that the only suspicious thing he’d ever seen Stanton do was come home one day wearing “big, dark lady sunglasses.”
“I can’t believe Jerry would rob a bank,” Hill continued. “He’s the kindest guy in the world.”
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