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Murder mystery

Homicide detectives have few leads and no motive in the July 25 murder of a 39-year-old South Philly man.

Johnny Brown Butler was found stabbed to death around 12:25 a.m. inside his home on the 2000 block of Garnet Street, said a detective from the Homicide Unit. Investigators were uncertain what weapon was used to stab the victim once in the torso.

According to a police report, the victim’s brand-new BMW also is missing. Neighbors said the victim had not been seen since July 21.

To report information, call the Homicide Unit at 215-686-3334/5.

Cop shoots suspect

A 27th District police officer shot and wounded a suspect who allegedly pulled a handgun during a chase that ended on the 1800 block of South 31st Street early last Thursday.

The saga began around 12:40 a.m. on the 1400 block of North Etting Street in North Philadelphia, where four occupants of a silver truck were firing weapons, police said. Two days before, the same truck had been reported stolen.

Officer Michael Winkler, who was on Operation Safe Streets patrol, witnessed the gunfire and stopped the truck. Trailed by police, the vehicle sped off to South Philly, where all four men jumped out.

During the ensuing chase, the driver of the truck, Saleem Dunmore, 19, allegedly pulled a gun on Winkler, said Sgt. Steve Biello of South Detective Division. The officer fired two shots at Dunmore, striking him in the stomach.

As he tried to disarm the suspect, one of the other three men jumped on Winkler’s back and they struggled, Biello said. Dunmore fled as more officers arrived.

Police Internal Affairs is investigating the case. Detectives did not recover the gun that Dunmore allegedly pointed at Winkler, but they did find a scope-equipped Ruger assault rifle with one round chambered and 30 other bullets in a magazine inside the truck, said Biello. On the 1400 block of North Etting, police recovered eight spent rifle cartridges, the sergeant added.

The suspect was taken to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and listed in guarded condition earlier this week.

Dunmore faces charges of aggravated assault, auto theft, fleeing police and related offenses, Biello said.

Winkler has been taken off street duty pending the results of the investigation.

More charges for accused teens

Additional charges likely will be filed against four teenagers arrested July 12 for a string of burglaries, police said.

The youths allegedly preyed upon fellow Asians from the 700 block of Wolf Street to the 2400 block of South Eighth Street, which police call the Seventh Street corridor, said Sgt. Steve Biello of South Detectives.

The robberies began May 1 and ended July 12 when Fourth District police responded to a burglary in progress on the 700 block of Wolf.

Police arrested two 15-year-old males, one from the 2400 block of South Eighth and the other from the 2400 block of South Marshall Street, and a 17-year-old male from the 1800 block of South 16th Street. Also arrested was Sopath Phuong, 19, from the 2400 block of South Fifth Street, said Biello.

After further investigation, South Detectives charged the teenagers with seven additional burglaries, the sergeant said.

Police now believe the gang may be responsible for even more burglaries against Asians in the area. Biello said since many of the area’s residents are immigrants and do not speak English, even if they were burglarized, they would not have been able to report the crime.

Anyone from the Seventh Street corridor who may have been burglarized should contact Detective Raymond Evers at 215-686-7640.

Couple of burglary suspects

Lovers who rob together could end up in jail together.

Police arrested a South Philly couple last Thursday who are wanted in connection with as many as 27 burglaries in the Pennypack Park area of Northeast Philadelphia, said Sgt. Steve Biello of South Detectives.

Charged in the string of burglaries are Derrick Patterson, 33, and Charlene Belton, 31, of the 1500 block of South Sixth Street, Biello reported. The incidents took place from April through July, police said.

Purse snatcher tackled

A 55-year-old woman got her purse back after witnesses on the 1300 block of Oregon Avenue bravely went after the perpetrator who stole it and tackled him, police said.

The victim, a resident of the 2200 block of South 12th Street, was walking along Oregon Avenue around 4 a.m. Friday with her 5-year-old granddaughter when a man stuck a B.B. gun in her back and threw her to the ground, said Sgt. Steve Biello of South Detectives.

After a brief struggle, the offender tore off down the street with the victim’s purse only to be tackled and subdued by witnesses until police arrived.

Police arrested Nicholas DeSalis, 25, of the 2300 block of Warnock Street, Biello said.

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