Man pleads guilty to shooting officer

A 43-year-old Camden man pleaded guilty today in the shooting of a Philadelphia police officer, who chased the thug even after he was shot in the arm in Bella Vista last year.

Rakin Thabit admitted that he and an accomplice robbed a man last June, and that after police approached, he shot Officer Mark Uffelman, who was hit in the left arm, during a chase.

Thabit pleaded guilty this morning to four charges - attempted murder, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery.

He is to be sentenced by Common Pleas Judge Denis Cohen on May 28.

His alleged accomplice, Jonathan Massa, 23, also of Camden, received offers to plead guilty from the commonwealth, but decided today that he wants to proceed with a trial, which is slated to begin with jury selection tomorrow. Assistant District Attorney Caroline Keating, in reading a summary of facts in Thabit's case, said that about 1:30 a.m. June 24, Thabit, allegedly with Massa, confronted Bryan Halligan, who was walking home from a church function.

At 8th and Fitzwater, the two drew guns, pointed them at Halligan's neck and back, and ordered him to lie down - telling him to "kiss the ground" - and to give up his money. While Halligan, then 29, lay on his stomach, the robbers took his backpack, the prosecutor said.

At the time, Officer Uffelman and his partner, David McAndrews, who were on duty in plainclothes, approached the corner and yelled out to see if Halligan was OK.

Thabit, allegedly with Massa, yelled back that Halligan "was just a little drunk [and that] he would be fine," Keating said.

But the officers could see that Halligan looked frightened, Keating said, so they walked toward the two thugs and ordered them to freeze, but the pair ran.

While fleeing on 8th Street, Thabit "turned and did an about-face and fired six shots" at Uffelman, unloading his six-shot revolver, the prosecutor said.

Uffelman was hit in his left arm below his elbow, she said. After being shot, he continued to run after Thabit and caught him hiding under a parked car, Keating said.

Thabit's revolver was found nearby.

Meanwhile, Officer McAndrews, who chased the accomplice, caught him on Mildred Street near 8th, Keating said. A semiautomatic weapon was found near the accomplice, she said.

Uffelman, 53, and McAndrews, 35, were in court today. Uffelman said after the court proceedings that he was "happy" Thabit pleaded guilty.