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Spencer Majett, 29, who has been charged with murder in the Tuesday, Oct. 8 killing of 23-year-old Felicity Vanatta of Salem, NJ, was injured after a police pursuit turned violent on Thursday, Nov. 7, police said.
Officers Josue Reyes and Michael Trask encountered Majett in the city’s Kensington neighborhood. Upon recognizing him as a suspect, the officers attempted to stop him, prompting a foot chase along the 3100 block of Reach Street, police said.
As the chase escalated, Majett was seen with a gun, and the officers ordered him to drop the weapon. After he refused to comply, Reyes used a Taser, which led to a single gunshot from Majett's firearm. The officers responded, with both Reyes and Trask firing their weapons, striking Majett twice in the upper back. He was quickly taken to Temple Hospital, where he remains in critical but stable condition.
Police recovered a loaded .40 caliber handgun from the scene. Fortunately, no officers were injured.
Majett faces charges of murder, recklessly endangering another person, and various firearms offenses in connection with Vanatta’s death on Oct. 8. Majett fired a stray bullet that struck Vanatta as she was walking near Kensington Avenue and Somerset Street, 6abc says citing investigators. Reports indicate Majett fired from half a block away.
Last May, Vanatta welcomed a baby girl, Violet, who has special needs, her obituary says.
In addition to the murder charges, Majett faces two counts each of assault on a law enforcement officer, aggravated assault, and recklessly endangering another person following his clash with Reyes and Trask.
Court documents indicate his preliminary hearing is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 18. He is currently held in the Philadelphia County Correctional Facility, with $1.5 million bail set for the assault charges; no bail was granted for the murder charge.
Reyes and Trask have been placed on administrative duty as the department's Internal Affairs, Officer-Involved Shooting Investigations Unit, and the District Attorney's Office continue to investigate.
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