Briefly... CITY/REGION

Man found dead in house

A man in his 30s was found duct-taped and fatally shot in a house in Southwest Philadelphia yesterday. Police said the victim, whose name was not released, was found with a gunshot wound to the head inside a property on Shields Street near Elmwood Avenue shortly after noon. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

* A teenager died Sunday night after being shot multiple times in the chest on Mutter Street near Westmoreland, North Philadelphia, police said yesterday. Christopher Rivera, of Howell Street near Hegerman, in Wissinoming, was pronounced dead at Temple University Hospital at 10:10 p.m.

Police knew of no motive and made no arrests in either crime. Tipsters can contact homicide detectives at 215-686-3334 or -3335.

2 charged in robbery spree

Two men have been charged with a string of South Philadelphia armed robberies, all of which occurred on Aug. 20, police said yesterday.

The accused crooks, My "K" Nguyen, 19, and Phuong Lee, 23, first struck at 1:12 a.m. at Dalia's Grocery Store, on 8th Street near League, and stole 10 packs of cigarettes, police said. Two hours later, they said, Nguyen and Lee held up a 7-Eleven at 10th Street and Snyder Avenue, and fled with an unknown amount of cash. During both heists, Nguyen fired shots at employees, police said, but no one was injured. At 10:12 p.m., Nguyen held up La Manzaneza, 8th and Wilder streets, and made off with cigarettes and $150 in cash, police said. Nguyen, of 8th and Ritner streets, and Lee, of Williamstown, N.J., were charged with robbery and related offenses.

2 charged in ambush slaying

Authorities in Norristown have announced the arrest of two men in the shooting death of Carter Duncan, whom they called a marijuana dealer. Montgomery County prosecutors say that the two - Wesley Calmese and Richard Engram - are charged with murder in the June 12 slaying. Prosecutors say that the two intended to rob Duncan, that Engram drove the victim to a prearranged place and that Calmese emerged from behind a parked van and shot him. Police arrested Engram July 30 and apprehended Calmese Thursday.

Changes in police cars, dogs

Atlantic City Mayor Lorenzo Langford is ordering changes in police procedures that would include suspending the use of police dogs and prohibiting officers from taking their patrol cars home. Langford says that the changes are meant to save money through limiting use of city vehicles, and to address residents' complaints about the use of police dogs.

- Staff and wire reports