An 8-year-old boy remains in critical but stable condition at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia after being shot in the head Sunday night while riding in an SUV with his father and 15-year-old uncle, police said.
The next day, investigators arrested Ronald Burris, 29, from the 1300 block of Catharine Street, and charged him with attempted murder, aggravated and simple assault, possessing an instrument of crime, firearms violations and related offenses, said Sgt. James Schrack of South Detective Division.
Sunday night’s bullet was apparently intended for the victim’s father, Karl Hatchett, said the sergeant, who confirmed that Hatchett had a previous relationship with a woman, now pregnant, whom Burris is dating.
"It’s just a very bad domestic situation," said Schrack.
Khynief Hatchett, from the 1600 block of South 22nd Street, was riding in the backseat of his father’s Chevy Tahoe around 9:30 p.m. when Burris spotted the Tahoe near Broad and Catharine and pursued them to the 1600 block of Catharine, the sergeant said.
Burris allegedly fired two to three rounds at the Tahoe — one of which entered the back of the vehicle and struck Khynief in the left temple, Schrack said.
The victim’s father sped to the 17th Police District and when he got there, Burris peeled off, said Schrack. A medic unit at the adjoining firehouse rushed Khynief to the hospital.
Meanwhile, the child’s father told investigators he knew who shot his son and provided them with two addresses in South Philly, Schrack said.
South Detectives and SWAT officers went to the locations, where a relative informed them Burris was hiding out at a home in West Philly, the sergeant said.
Investigators nabbed Burris around 7 a.m. Monday at the West Philly home, said Schrack. Later that morning, detectives recovered a .38-caliber revolver at that location, the sergeant added.
A spokesperson for CHOP said the Hatchett family had requested no specific information be released to the media concerning Khynief’s condition.
Man’s body found in park
Firefighters fished the body of a man out of a lake at FDR Park at Broad and Pattison on Monday morning. The victim’s arm was barely attached, one investigator said.
A jogger made the gruesome discovery Monday around 8 a.m. and phoned police, said Detective David Budka of South Detectives. Autopsy results are pending.
The man, who police identified as James Edwards, 42, of the 6000 block of Chester Street, surfaced near the south end of the lake, near I-95, officials said.
Charged in fatal crash
A Mercerville, N.J., man faces murder charges in connection with a head-on collision that instantly killed a Lancaster County man and critically wounded his friend — paralyzing him from the neck down.
Both victims were on their way home from a Phillies game Saturday around 11 p.m., said Sgt. George Golden of the Accident Investigation Division.
In addition to murder, Luis Ramos, 25, is charged with involuntary manslaughter, aggravated and simple assault, recklessly endangering another person and homicide by vehicle, said the sergeant. There was no evidence that Ramos had been driving under the influence or drag racing, Golden added.
Ramos and his 23-year-old brother, Pedro Ramos, from Vineland, N.J., sustained minor injuries in the crash on Columbus Boulevard near the Walt Whitman Bridge. Both were treated and released from the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania the next day; Luis Ramos was released into police custody, Golden said.
Brian Foss, 26, from Mountville, was pronounced dead at the scene, while his passenger, Timothy Nauman, 26, was rushed to Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, the sergeant said.
Witnesses told police Ramos was traveling south on Columbus Boulevard from Oregon Avenue at a "very high rate of speed" when he lost control of his 2004 Mazda, struck a median and went airborne, Golden said.
The Mazda slammed into Foss’ 1985 Audi in the northbound lanes of Columbus Boulevard, said the sergeant.
Ramos’ car continued on its path of destruction in the northbound lanes until it caught fire and both brothers jumped out, Golden said.
Bust nets drugs, weapons
Narcotics officers have arrested a man they say pushed dope outside a bar near Sixth and Moyamensing.
James Burns, 47, from the 2200 block of South Sixth Street, was arrested last Thursday and charged with possession, manufacture and delivery of a controlled substance, criminal conspiracy and firearms violations, said Narcotics Bureau Inspector Joe Sullivan.
Based on surveillance and confidential sources, officers from Narcotics Field Unit South gleaned information that Burns allegedly would be acquiring more narcotics, Sullivan added.
Authorities nabbed Burns after he exited his apartment, and seized 12 grams of cocaine from him, the inspector said.
Inside the apartment, police confiscated 100 grams of cocaine with a street value of $10,000; one loaded .40-caliber handgun; 179 grams of marijuana with a street value of $1,790; 5 grams of crack cocaine with a street value of $500; and scales, packaging material and other paraphernalia, Sullivan said.
Porchia’s mom denied bail
Tiffany Bennett, the mother of a 3-year-old who was allegedly beaten to death by her caregivers, was denied a bail reduction last Thursday in Common Pleas Court. Her bail is set at $100,000.
Porchia Bennett was found Aug. 17, wedged between a mattress and a bedroom wall on the 1700 block of South Fifth Street.
Tiffany Bennett, 27, is charged with four counts of endangering the welfare of a child for leaving Porchia and her three sisters in the care of an 18-year-old aunt and her 31-year-old boyfriend, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
Authorities charged Candice Geiger and Jerry Chambers with Porchia’s murder.
Charges were brought against Bennett because she left her children in the couple’s care and did not intervene to seek medical treatment after she allegedly knew they were being abused, according to court documents.
Local bust nets more arrests
Police Commissioner Sylvester M. Johnson commended narcotics officers yesterday for a series of citywide raids over a 24-hour period that culminated Tuesday night.
The seizures are part of an ongoing investigation, said Narcotics Bureau Inspector Joe Sullivan.
In total, the raids netted 20 guns, eight assault rifles, $100,000 in cash and $400,000 in drugs, Johnson said. Fourteen of the 20 firearms were confiscated from one house in South Philly.
Displayed yesterday at Police Headquarters were some of the firearms — including AK-47s, a shotgun, handguns and an AR-15 — along with bundles of cash, crack cocaine, heroin and marijuana.
"The nexus between drugs and violence is unmistakable," Sullivan said.
Of the raids, two were in South Philly and one was in Southwest Philly.
On Tuesday night, officers executed numerous search and seizure warrants in South Philly, said Capt. Dave Testa of Narcotics Field Unit South. The warrants were the result of an investigation into a heroin distribution ring operating in the area, officials said.
Investigators arrested a 17-year-old from the 2600 block of South Iseminger Street; Christopher Colanero, 22, from 623 Sears St.; Jose Perez, 28, from 403 Dickinson St.; and Haiti Decosta, 22, from 1457 Stirling St., Testa said.
Police confiscated 275 bundles of heroin with a street value of $37,000, and 27 grams of bulk heroin with a street value of $8,100, said the captain. Of the 14 guns seized, 11 were handguns — including a .50-caliber Desert Eagle — and three were assault rifles. Also seized were three vehicles and $25,219.
