Police found the victim with a fatal gunshot wound to the chest. The motive is uncertainand no arrest has been made.
First District police discovered a 22-year-old man with a gunshot wound to his chest lying in the street on the 2700 block of Snyder Avenue last week.
Medic 37 took John J. Jewell, of the 2900 block of Reed Street, to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, where he was pronounced dead at 12:27 a.m., said Lt. Joe Maum of the Homicide Division.
The lieutenant said a handgun was used in the Oct. 22 slaying that occurred minutes after midnight.
Investigators are looking at a possible suspect and motive in the case, said a source with South Detective Division.
To report information, call the Homicide Division at 215-686-3334/35.
Arrest in singer’s stabbing
A South Philly man has been charged with stabbing singer Jonathan "Chico" DeBarge last Thursday inside an Old City nightclub, police said.
The victim — in town appearing in a theater production — was knifed after he tried to break up an altercation, said police.
John Casasanto, 45, was charged with aggravated assault, recklessly endangering another person, weapons offenses and related charges, said Inspector Bill Colarulo of the Police Public Affairs Unit.
A police source said Casasanto is from the 1100 block of Durfor Street.
The disturbance that led to the stabbing broke out at 3:15 a.m. between a group of female patrons inside Club Deco on the 100 block of North Front Street, said the inspector.
After that fight subsided, another one erupted between several men inside the club, Colarulo said. When DeBarge tried to intervene, Casasanto allegedly knifed him in the lower back, said the inspector.
The victim was taken to Hahnemann University Hospital, said Officer Sheila Smith of the Police Public Affairs Unit.
DeBarge, a former Motown recording artist, was performing in the Merriam Theater production Why Did I Get Married? with singer Kelly Price, said a spokesperson for the theater. The spokesperson added that DeBarge was treated and released from the hospital on Friday, but missed that evening’s performance. The performer is currently on a U.S. tour with the production.
DeBarge’s family name is best known for the band that gained popularity during the mid-1980s with the disco song Rhythm of the Night and other hits.
Knifed in fight
A man was stabbed in his derriere outside a 7-Eleven store Sunday during a violent brawl with a group of males, police said.
The 26-year-old victim and a friend were exiting the store on the 1100 block of South 11th Street around 1:45 a.m. when the victim got into an argument with the males, said Sgt. Steve Biello of South Detectives.
The offenders began kicking and punching the victim, then one of the culprits knifed the victim twice in the buttocks, the sergeant said.
Officers who happened to be stopping at the store spotted the attack and arrested Ky Nguyen, 18, of the 1700 block of South
Mole Street, said Biello.
The male is charged with aggravated and simple assault, recklessly endangering another person and possession of an instrument of crime.
Carjackers take off with truck
Two males stole the company vehicle right out from under a driver while his truck was stopped, police said.
The 35-year-old victim, who works for Jayem Stripping Company, told detectives he was stopped on the 400 block of Oregon Avenue shortly after 1:30 a.m. Sunday when he saw the duo exit a green Cadillac Escalade, said Sgt. Steve Biello of South Detectives.
One of the assailants held his hand behind his back as if he had a gun and grabbed the victim by the neck to remove him from the vehicle, the sergeant said. Meanwhile, his accomplice jumped into the victim’s 1992 black Ford F-250 pickup and drove east on Oregon, while his partner in crime took off in the Escalade, Biello said.
To report information, call South Detectives at 215-686-3013. SPR
Beware of mischief
The Witching Hour is almost upon us.
Police are seeking the public’s help in keeping tonight, Mischief Night, and tomorrow night, Halloween, safe and fun for all.
The South Division Police Districts (First, Third, Fourth and 17th) carried out "Operation Good Egg" this week by visiting merchants to discourage the sale of eggs to juveniles, said Fourth District Community Relations Officers Gary Harkins and Charlie Sarkioglu.
In addition, officers visited area schools to educate children of the consequences of their actions if they engage in acts of vandalism and assault.
There will be an increased police presence on the streets both nights. Tonight, Nuisance (Night) Court will be in session at Third and Fourth District Police headquarters at 11th and Wharton streets. The curfew of 10:30 p.m. for kids under the age of 18 will be strictly enforced.
For information, call Officer Harkins or Sarkioglu at 215-685-1675.
Have a safe Halloween
The American Legion Lincoln Post No. 89 and American Legion Auxiliary Unit No. 89 are hosting their annual Halloween/Safety Education Day, tomorrow, 3-5 p.m. at 1940 Federal St.
Legionnaires and auxiliary members will hand out free candy to local children, as well as safety literature and rulers, said president Bernadette Muchison.
The Philadelphia Fire Department’s Fire Prevention Unit donated the literature and rulers.
For more information, call 215-389-1092.
Fit to be tied
Neighbors are upset that a beloved neighborhood statue of Jesus has been abandoned and bound to a pole in Goldstar Park.
Just three months after residents on the 600 block of Wharton Street rallied to repair a vandalized statue of Jesus, they are coming together again to protect the figure from a Mischief Night massacre.
The statue — which was repaired over the summer with the help of neighbors after vandals decapitated it — has been removed from the small community garden where it was located and tied to a telephone pole in Goldstar Park.
Now, with no one to watch over it, residents are worried that the statue will be attacked on Mischief Night.
"It’s just very sad. [The statue] is sitting there, wide open, and we just hope that no one comes along and destroys it again," said neighbor Jim Hudson, who enlisted the help of a handyman to repair the statue in July.
The garden property was sold in early September, and the new owner left a notice in the door of Donna Scherer, who lives directly across the street from the garden, saying the statue had to go.
"We don’t know what happened to the previous owner or even who the new owner is. They just left me a note saying that the statue had to be removed," Scherer said.
She added that Richard Bishop, the statue’s original owner, tied the figure to the telephone pole at its present location after being informed of the news.
He has since gone on vacation and offered no indication of what will become of the statue.
In the meantime, residents are scrambling to find short-term shelter for the Jesus figure, although the legality of moving a statue that is not theirs troubles Hudson.
"Without any hesitation, I would take [the statue] right now and put it on my lawn to keep it safe," he said. "The problem is, it’s not my statue and that would be like stealing."
In the meantime, the residents are hoping that Jesus’ guardian angels will be keeping close watch on Mischief Night.
–By David Gambacorta
