Tag:

Philadelphia District Attorney's Office

Philly DA Sues Elon Musk, America PAC Over $1M Sweepstakes: Court Documents Philly DA Sues Elon Musk, America PAC Over $1M Sweepstakes: Court Documents
Philly DA Sues Elon Musk, America PAC Over $1M Sweepstakes: Court Documents The Philadelphia District Attorney's Office is suing Elon Musk and his America PAC over the $1 million sweepstakes both parties have been running at town halls in Pennsylvania. Musk and America PAC "are running an illegal lottery in Philadelphia (as well as throughout Pennsylvania)," the lawsuit states. The court document was posted online by CNN on Monday, Oct. 28. “The Philadelphia District Attorney is charged with protecting the public from public nuisances and unfair trade practices, including illegal lotteries," the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office said in a Monday, Oct. 28 news…
Detective ID'd In Fatal Off-Duty Shooting, Philadelphia Police Say Detective ID'd In Fatal Off-Duty Shooting, Philadelphia Police Say
Detective ID'd In Fatal Off-Duty Shooting, Philadelphia Police Say Both the victim and the shooter of an officer-involved killing have been identified, Philadelphia police announced on Monday, Oct. 7.  Robert Jones, a 54-year-old Black man from Philadelphia, was shot dead by Detective Christopher Sweeney, a 43-year-old white man from Philadelphia, according to an updated release by PPD. The shooting happened at the intersection of Willits Road and Holme Avenue at 11:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 3, according to the initial release, as Daily Voice previously reported. A preliminary investigation into the incident found that the off-duty homicide detecti…
Off-Duty Detectives Kills Man, 54, In Philadelphia, Police Say Off-Duty Detectives Kills Man, 54, In Philadelphia, Police Say
Off-Duty Detectives Kills Man, 54, In Philadelphia, Police Say A 54-year-old man was killed in a shooting involving an off-duty detective in Philadelphia, according to police. Police were dispatched to assist another officer at the intersection of Willits Road and Holme Avenue at 11:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 3, the Philadelphia Police Department said. A preliminary investigation into the incident found that the off-duty homicide detective and another driver stopped their vehicles on the roadway, according to police. The other driver left his vehicle and approached the detective's personal vehicle on foot. The detective, a 14-year veteran of the Philadelp…
Mass Shooting Victim Charged As Suspect: Philadelphia Police Mass Shooting Victim Charged As Suspect: Philadelphia Police
Tahir Shoatz Charged In West Philly Mass Shooting: PPD One of the nine people shot in West Philadelphia on Sunday, July 21 is now considered a suspect by city police, authorities said.  Tahir Shoatz, 28, is charged with three counts of murder and five counts of attempted murder plus related offenses, said PPD Commissioner Kevin Bethel on Tuesday, July 23.  Regarding the Triple Murder/Shooting that occurred on 1200 N Alden St., @PhillyPolice Detectives, w/ assistance from the @philadao have developed evidence to charge one of our shooting victims, a 28/M, with 3-counts of murder, 5-counts of attempted murder and related offens…
DA Will Not Seek Death Penalty For Temple Policeman's Accused Killer DA Will Not Seek Death Penalty For Temple Policeman's Accused Killer
DA Will Not Seek Death Penalty For Temple Policeman's Accused Killer The death penalty will not be sought for the 19-year-old charged with Officer Christopher Fitzgerald's murder, the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office announced on Wednesday, July 10. Fitzgerald, a 31-year-old Temple University policeman and father of four, was fatally shot on Feb. 18 during an armed robbery on West Montgomery Avenue, authorities have said.  Eighteen-year-old Miles Pfeffer was arrested at his Buckingham Township home the following day using Fitzgerald's handcuffs. He was charged with murder, homicide of a law enforcement officer, VUFA, and related co…
Arrest Warrant Against Rep. Kevin Boyle Withdrawn: Philadelphia DA Arrest Warrant Against Rep. Kevin Boyle Withdrawn: Philadelphia DA
Arrest Warrant Against Rep. Kevin Boyle Withdrawn: Philadelphia DA Just days after officials said state Rep. Kevin Boyle was wanted for violating a Protection From Abuse order, the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office said the arrest warrant against him has been withdrawn.  DA Larry Krasner said the warrant was based on "information that was accurate" and "truthful," but that prosecutors were "missing a key piece of information" that they were "only able to confirm today." The PFA order "was no longer in effect on the relevant dates when Mr. Boyle was alleged to have violated that order," Krasner said.  He repeatedly declined to offer specifi…
Biker Charged With Assault For Viral Center City Attack On Mom, Kids Biker Charged With Assault For Viral Center City Attack On Mom, Kids
Biker Charged With Assault For Viral Center City Attack On Mom, Kids Cody Heron, allegedly the motorcyclist seen in a now-viral clip from Sunday night, Oct. 1, is charged with aggravated assault and related counts, said the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office.  In a video that has been widely shared, a biker now identified by authorities as Heron was seen smashing the rear windshield of a woman's car before threatening her with a handgun and headbutting her with his helmet.  The DA's Office said Heron smashed glass on the victim's young children, aged 2 and 5, who were sitting in the backseat.  Authorities said the altercation began after Heron ran into…
GF Mourns Loss Of BF Killed By Police During Car Meet On I-95 GF Mourns Loss Of BF Killed By Police During Car Meet On I-95
GF Mourns Loss Of BF Killed By Police During Car Meet On I-95 Condolences were pouring in for 18-year-old Anthony Allegrini Jr., who was shot and killed by police during a car meetup on I-95 early Sunday, June 4. Allegrini failed to yield to troopers trying to contact him during a car meet on the highway at mile marker 21 near Penn's Landing around 3:25 a.m. Sunday, June 4, Pennsylvania State Police said. The Glen Mills man struck two troopers, prompting one to fire his service weapon. Allegrini was struck by a bullet and pronounced dead at the scene. The involved Troopers sustained minor injuries. Meanwhile, Allegrini's girlfriend, Reagan Hocking, o…
Young Driver Shot Dead By Police During Illegal Street Racing Event On I-95 In Philadelphia Young Driver Shot Dead By Police During Illegal Street Racing Event On I-95 In Philadelphia
Young Driver Shot Dead By Police During Illegal Street Racing Event On I-95 In Philadelphia An 18-year-old driver from Delaware County was shot and killed by police trying to control an illegal and dangerous street racing meet-up overnight on I-95 in Philadelphia. Troopers were trying to contact Anthony Allegrini Jr. in a vehicle near mile marker 21 near Penn's Landing around 3:25 a.m. Sunday, June 4, State Police said. ALSO SEE: 'Act Of Racial Profiling:' GF Mourns Loss Of BF Killed By Police During Car Meet On I-95 Allegrini, however, struck two troopers in failing to yield, authorities said. That's when one of the troopers fired his service weapon and struck Allegrin…
Trio Charged With Trafficking Guns, Drugs In Philadelphia: DA Trio Charged With Trafficking Guns, Drugs In Philadelphia: DA
Trio Charged With Trafficking Guns, Drugs In Philadelphia: DA Three members of a drug-dealing and gun-trafficking ring — including its alleged "ringleader" — are sitting in a Philadelphia jail cell, says District Attorney Larry Krasner.  The arrests occurred on Wednesday, Feb. 8 and followed a 15-month investigation by state, local and federal authorities, the DA's Office said.  On that day, prosecutors claimed 29-year-old Adam To and 26-year-old Steven Mao stopped by the Poplar home of 31-year-old Michael Phung Du to buy a quarter-pound of cocaine.  After the alleged transaction, authorities say To and Mao were taken into custody. From there, polic…
Philly Woman Spent 5 Days In Jail For Texas Crime She Never Committed Philly Woman Spent 5 Days In Jail For Texas Crime She Never Committed
Philly Woman Spent 5 Days In Jail For Texas Crime She Never Committed A Philadelphia woman sat in a city jail cell for five days for a Texas crime that she never committed.  Julie Hudson, a 31-year-old Ph.D. student, was released from custody just before midnight on Wednesday, Jan. 11, ending a saga that began a year ago and over a thousand miles away.  Police in Webster, Texas — a suburb of Houston — identified a different woman named Julie Hudson as a suspect in a shoplifting incident from May 2022, NBC 10 has reported.  In addition to sharing a name, the Philly Ph.D. student and the accused Texas shoplifter bear some resemblance, …
Man Exonerated Of Murder Wanted As Getaway Driver In New Philadelphia Homicide Case Man Exonerated Of Murder Wanted As Getaway Driver In New Philadelphia Homicide Case
Man Exonerated Of Murder Wanted As Getaway Driver In New Philadelphia Homicide Case A Philadelphia man exonerated for murder last year is being sought in connection with another killing that happened just months after his release, multiple news outlets report.  Jahmir Harris, 32, is believed to have been the getaway driver in the Sept. 5 killing of 50-year-old community activist Charles Gossett, police announced this week. Gossett was standing on the 1700 block of North 56th Street around 2 a.m. when two gunmen emerged from a nearby car and fatally shot him, prosecutors said.  Based on surveillance footage from the scene, officials believe Harris was behind the …
Retired Philly Cop Charged With Indecent Assault Of Young Girls, Retaliation Against Witnesses Retired Philly Cop Charged With Indecent Assault Of Young Girls, Retaliation Against Witnesses
Retired Philly Cop Charged With Indecent Assault Of Young Girls, Retaliation Against Witnesses Authorities on Friday, Sept. 30 urged other potential victims to come forward after they charged a retired Philadelphia police officer with indecent assault of young girls and retaliation against witnesses. Patrick Heron, 52, was arrested on Wednesday, Sept. 28, and is being held on $2 million bail, Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner said. He went on to say that the allegations against the former officer were "among the most alarming, sensitive, and serious that my administration's detectives and prosecutors have investigated." DA Krasner Announces Charges Against Former Pol…
Ex-Philly Cop Found Guilty Of Manslaughter In On-Duty Killing Of Unarmed Black Man Ex-Philly Cop Found Guilty Of Manslaughter In On-Duty Killing Of Unarmed Black Man
Ex-Philly Cop Found Guilty Of Manslaughter In On-Duty Killing Of Unarmed Black Man A now-former Philadelphia police officer was convicted Wednesday, Sept. 21 in the on-duty killing of an unarmed Black man nearly five years earlier, authorities said. After an eight-day trial, Eric Ruch Jr., 34, was found guilty of voluntary manslaughter and possession of an instrument of crime for his role in the shooting death of 25-year-old Dennis Plowden in 2017, according to the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office.  His bail was revoked and sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 17 The DA's office says this trial was the first in the city in which an on-duty police officer was tried fo…
US Marshals In Virginia Nab 2 Teen Suspects In Mass Philly Shooting: DA US Marshals In Virginia Nab 2 Teen Suspects In Mass Philly Shooting: DA
US Marshals In Virginia Nab 2 Teen Suspects In Mass Philly Shooting: DA Two teenage suspects in the mass casualty shooting in Philadelphia last weekend were arrested Thursday, June 9 by members of the US Marshals Service in Norfolk, Virginia, authorities said. Quadir Dukes-Hill, 18, of Drexel Hill, and Nahjee Whittington, 18, of Philadelphia, were charged with murder, among other offenses, in Saturday's shooting on South Street, Assistant District Attorney Joanne Pescatore said at an afternoon news conference. DA Krasner Provides Second Update on Investigation of South Street Mass Shooting Posted by Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office on Thursday, June…
Philly Officer Suspended, Charged With Perjury After Lying About Gun Arrest: Police Philly Officer Suspended, Charged With Perjury After Lying About Gun Arrest: Police
Philly Officer Suspended, Charged With Perjury After Lying About Gun Arrest: Police Authorities charged a Philadelphia police officer with perjury after allegations that he lied about a gun-related arrest last year. Officer Daniel Levitt was arrested on the morning of Thursday, March 17, on a warrant for making false statements and testimony in connection with the arrest of a person on a Uniform Firearms Act (VUFA) violation, Philadelphia police said. During an audit of city-wide gun violation arrests, the department's internal affairs division found that Levitt  "violated departmental policy" in the April 28, 2021 arrest, they said. Levitt, who is a 12-year vet…
SEPTA Transit Officer Charged In Taser Assault Of 'Disruptive' Bus Passenger SEPTA Transit Officer Charged In Taser Assault Of 'Disruptive' Bus Passenger
SEPTA Transit Officer Charged In Taser Assault Of 'Disruptive' Bus Passenger A former SEPTA transit officer was charged after he deployed his Taser device on a passenger without giving them the opportunity to comply with his demands to exit the bus, authorities said. Floyd Whitaker, 59, of Laurel Springs, NJ, was charged with simple assault, unlawful use of an incapacitation device, recklessly endangering another person, and official oppression, according to the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office. The incident occurred on April 12, 2021, around 4 a.m., at the Frankford Transportation Center, when a driver requested assistance with a disruptive passenger, t…
Philly Priest Lied To FBI About Knowing Sex Abuse Survivor, Parishioner: Feds Philly Priest Lied To FBI About Knowing Sex Abuse Survivor, Parishioner: Feds
Philly Priest Lied To FBI About Knowing Sex Abuse Survivor, Parishioner: Feds An 83-year-old Philadelphia priest pleaded guilty to lying to federal investigators about not knowing a former parishioner and sexual abuse victim, authorities said. In Sept. 2019, Robert Brennan, of Perryville, MD, was charged with four counts of making materially false statements stemming from an April 2019 interview with FBI agents, according to Acting United States Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams. Brennan worked with the Archdiocese of Philadelphia from 1993 to 2004 as a priest at Resurrection of Our Lord Church, authorities said. The Philadelphia District Atto…
Levittown Shooting Suspect Shot Dead After Chase Ends In Philadelphia Levittown Shooting Suspect Shot Dead After Chase Ends In Philadelphia
Levittown Shooting Suspect Shot Dead After Chase Ends In Philadelphia A Levittown shooting suspect was shot dead following a police pursuit that ended in Philadelphia Wednesday afternoon, reports say. Terrance Andre Bey, 29, is accused of shooting a man who was attempting to help the victim of a domestic assault at the Racquet Club Apartments on Veterans Highway in Middletown Township, around 2:40 p.m., according to the Bucks County District Attorney's Office. A 9-1-1 caller told emergency dispatchers that a 28-year-old woman, who lived in the apartment complex, was involved in a domestic assault with her boyfriend, later identified as Bey, of …
DA: Man Who Prompted Amber Alert In Philly Killed 3-Year-Old Son's Mom, Grandma DA: Man Who Prompted Amber Alert In Philly Killed 3-Year-Old Son's Mom, Grandma
DA: Man Who Prompted Amber Alert In Philly Killed 3-Year-Old Son's Mom, Grandma A man who prompted an Amber Alert in Philadelphia last week involving his 3-year-old son was charged with killing the boy's mother and grandmother, authorities announced Friday. Byron McDonald II, 27, first shot Tamara Aikens, 50, to death in a drive-by before gunning down the boy's mom -- Morgan Braxton, 25, also Aikens’ daughter -- inside her North 8th Street home on April 12, the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office said. According to video evidence obtained by police, McDonald was seen firing multiple rounds at Aikens' North Bancroft Street home through the passenger w…
FBI Joins Search For Justin Smith; Boyfriend Accused Of Killing Pregnant Dianna Brice FBI Joins Search For Justin Smith; Boyfriend Accused Of Killing Pregnant Dianna Brice
FBI Joins Search For Justin Smith; Boyfriend Accused Of Killing Pregnant Dianna Brice The FBI has joined the search for a 23-year-old man wanted in the murder of his 21-year-old pregnant girlfriend, Dianna Brice, authorities announced. The FBI's Philadelphia field office is offering a monetary reward for information leading directly to the arrest of Justin Smith, according to a wanted poster released this week. Smith is known to have connections to Greensboro, North Carolina, and New Castle, Delaware. He has also been seen in the Little Haiti neighborhood of Miami, Florida, and in Atlanta, Georgia, federal investigators said. FBI Wanted posterFBI Brice -- who was four-a…
AG: 4 Philadelphia Men Arrested Following Morgantown Gun Show Investigation AG: 4 Philadelphia Men Arrested Following Morgantown Gun Show Investigation
AG: 4 Philadelphia Men Arrested Following Morgantown Gun Show Investigation Four Philadelphia men were arrested following a Morgantown gun show investigation that uncovered a ghost gun trafficking operation, authorities announced. Authorities seized five fully assembled ghost guns, four 80% receiver kits, one 80% receiver, one Smith and Wesson revolver, extended magazines, and more than 1,000 rounds of ammunition, according to Attorney General Josh Shapiro. Ghost guns typically start as “80% receivers” that are often sold in kits without background checks. They can be easily and quickly put together, lack serial numbers so they cannot be traced, and, once full…