An argument may have led to a young man’s shooting, police say.
Homicide detectives continue to investigate the death of a 23-year-old man who was gunned down Saturday four blocks from his home.
Police found Lance Harris, of the 1500 block of South Ringgold Street, with a gunshot wound to the chest on the 2700 block of Tasker Street around 12:20 p.m., said Capt. Thomas Lippo of the Homicide Unit.
The victim was taken to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, where he was pronounced dead at 12:48 p.m.
As of Monday, detectives were looking into the possibility that an argument may have led to the murder, said Lippo.
Neighbors have arranged a memorial of stuffed animals and message boards at the site of the shooting.
To report information, call the Homicide Unit at 215-686-3335.
Man and child shot
Two apparent bystanders told police they heard gunshots Saturday night, then realized they had been struck by two of the bullets.
Jason Smith, 24, of the 2600 block of Wilder Street — the block of the shooting — and a 12-year-old boy from the 1700 block of South Cleveland Street were outside when they heard the bullets fly near midnight, said Sgt. Steve Biello of South Detective Division.
Smith, who was shot once in the left leg, was taken to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, said Biello. The youth suffered a graze wound to his left arm and was taken to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, said the sergeant. Both victims were listed in good condition earlier this week, Biello said.
To report information, call South Detectives at 215-686-3013.
Bullet in the back
A 35-year-old man remains in critical condition after being shot in the back Monday near his home on the 1200 block of South 27th Street, said police.
The victim told police that before he lost consciousness, he remembered seeing a woman pull the trigger around 12:10 a.m., said Sgt. Steve Biello of South Detectives.
The man was taken to HUP, where he underwent immediate surgery, Biello said.
Nabbed in subway heist
A male claiming to have a gun approached a 24-year-old man and demanded his money on the Broad Street Line around 7:15 p.m. Friday, said police.
The culprit then punched the victim in the face and grabbed his Walkman and $68 from his pocket, said Sgt. Steve Biello of South Detectives.
The victim quickly reported the incident to SEPTA police, who ordered the train to a halt at Broad and Erie, said Biello.
Police arrested Ricardo Williams, 26, of the 1900 block of South 73rd Street, and charged him with possession of the stolen goods before turning them over to the victim.
The victim sustained scrapes and bruises, but required no hospitalization, Biello said.
Passenger bus-ted
A 24-year-old man riding a SEPTA bus around 11:30 a.m. Friday grabbed another passenger’s bag, then ran out the back door of the vehicle only to be chased by the 37-year-old victim, said police.
Police arrested Juan Rivas, 24, of the 3400 block of Hurley Street, a few blocks from where the incident occurred on the 500 block of South Fourth, said Sgt. Steve Biello of South Detectives.
The victim told police the bandit threatened to harm him if he kept pursuing him.
Fearing for his life, the victim called police from his cell phone, said Biello.
Police returned the man’s bag after apprehending the suspect.
Shots fired into home
Whoever fired two bullets through the front window of a couple’s home Saturday night may have been making good on a threat allegedly lobbed at the victims’ grandson earlier that day, said police.
The 50-year-old victim told police that he and his wife heard several gunshots around 8 p.m. outside their home on the 1200 block of South Taylor Street, said Sgt. Steve Biello of South Detectives. The man was checking over his home when he discovered the bullet holes in his living-room window, Biello said.
Earlier that day, the couple’s grandson and another young man were arguing when the other man allegedly threatened to shoot up the house, said police.
There were no injuries, and evidence was recovered at the scene, said Biello.
To report information, call South Detectives at 215-686-3013.
Judge orders pit bull euthanized
It took just two months for Charles Gottesman to see justice play out in a case that has garnered considerable local attention.
The pit bull that attacked him and his dog Sonny in Dickinson Square Park on July 21 will be put to sleep, Common Pleas Judge Alan Silberstein ruled last Wednesday.
There’s just one small problem.
It appears the dog and his owner "have disappeared," maintains Gottesman.
Neighbors allege George Lindsey walks his pit bulls late at night, while the city’s Animal Control unit has been unable to seize the dog to carry out the court order, said Gottesman.
Attempts to contact Animal Control were unsuccessful.
The attack occurred around 8 a.m. July 21, when Gottesman and his 11-year-old Doberman pinscher Sonny arrived at the park on the 400 block of Tasker Street.
Lindsey and his two pit bulls — both off their leashes — were also in the park at the time. The owner was later fined $25 for violating the city’s leash law, police said.
One of the unrestrained dogs charged Gottesman and Sonny, mauling the man as he tried to save his dog from the attack.
The day after the incident, Gottesman’s left pinkie finger had to be amputated due to the severity of the wounds he sustained.
Gottesman said he has since made a "concerted" effort to see that Lindsey’s dog wouldn’t harm anyone else.
With the help of City Solicitor Jalaine Stokes and Animal Control employees George Stokes and Darlene Sosa, Gottesman secured a hearing in Common Pleas Court.
At the hearing, Silberstein ruled that the pit bull was dangerous and that Lindsey did not keep the dog under proper control, noted Gottesman.
For his part, Gottesman said, Lindsey denied the dog was his, and said he had just been walking it that day.
Sonny has recovered nicely since the attack, but his owner said the pain in his hands lingers. Gottesman also complains pit bulls still run loose in Dickinson Square Park.
