Homicide investigators have no motive or suspects in the crime, which also left a 15-year-old injured.
Investigators continue to hunt for the gunman wanted for a shooting on the 1600 block of Etting Street that left one teen dead and another wounded.
Antoine Kellam, 18, of the 1800 block of South 24th Street, was pronounced dead at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, said Sgt. Tim Cooney of South Detective Division.
Kellam was shot four times in his back in Sunday’s 10:15 p.m. incident, the sergeant added.
A 15-year-old from the same block on which the incident occurred was treated for a gunshot wound to his right leg, said Cooney.
To report information, call the Homicide Division at 215-686-3334/35.
Man dies in fire
Firefighters responding to an early-morning blaze near Broad and Morris on Sunday found the body of a man in a second-floor bedroom.
Michael Minetti, 52, died of soot and smoke inhalation, said Jeff Moran of the Medical Examiner’s Office.
As of yesterday, the cause of the fire was still under investigation, said Executive Fire Chief William Brightcliffe.
Engine 10 was the first fire company to arrive at 1410 Castle Ave. at 5:30 a.m., followed by Ladder 11, Brightcliffe said.
The blaze, which started in the second-floor bedroom, was contained 10 minutes later, added the chief.
Although the dwelling did not contain smoke alarms, it did have a heat detection device, Brightcliffe said.
Mom arrested for abuse
A 28-year-old mother faces a slew of charges in the alleged abuse of her infant son. Investigators said her original story that the baby had suffered a fall was inconsistent with the child’s injuries.
Renee Knight, of the 400 block of Fitzgerald Street, was arrested Saturday around 5:30 a.m. and charged with aggravated and simple assault, recklessly endangering another person and endangering the welfare of a child, said Officer Sheila Smith of the Police Public Affairs Unit.
Knight originally told police Friday that her 2-month-old boy had rolled off her king-size bed and onto the floor at 6 p.m. Medics rushed the child to HUP, where he was admitted in critical condition for skull fractures, Smith said.
Doctors said the victim’s injuries were not the result of a fall from a bed, the officer added.
Pit bull mauls boy
A routine trip to the corner store turned into a nightmare for a 9-year-old boy who was mauled by a pit bull on the loose.
The victim was walking back to his home on the 1500 block of South Hicks Street around 8:30 a.m. Saturday when the brown canine charged out of nowhere and attacked the youth, said Capt. Jerrold Bates of the 17th Police District.
The victim was bitten several times on his neck, face and legs, the captain added. Medic 27 took the boy to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, where he was treated and released Sunday morning, officials said.
Philadelphia Animal Care and Control Association impounded the animal, said Bates.
As is the case with most districts, the 17th District receives a lot of calls on a daily basis for vicious dogs on the streets, the captain confirmed. Police wagons are equipped with dog nooses so officers can snatch up the animals, said Bates.
In addition, PACCA routinely patrols the city to keep an eye out for cantankerous canines.
Kathleen Lombardo: Ailing woman missing
Police and the daughter of a missing woman who suffers from paranoid schizophrenia are asking the public’s help in finding her.
Kathleen Lombardo, 48, of the 1100 block of Tasker Street, was last seen Nov. 3 inside the St. Jude Shop on East Passyunk Avenue, said Sgt. Tim Cooney of South Detectives.
Describing her mother as very religious, Kay Lombardo said the woman was buying rosary beads and other holy articles.
Kay reported her mother missing. "I’m petrified of what I’m going to find out. She’s never disappeared before. She needs her medication really bad," said her daughter, who is her only relative.
Lombardo has been known to frequent the park at 13th Street and Oregon Avenue, South Street, East Passyunk Avenue and Rittenhouse Square, said Cooney. "She likes to walk around, so she could just be wandering around — talking to herself and laughing," said Kay.
Lombardo was recently evicted from her apartment and her electric service was turned off around the same time, her daughter said. Kay added that she thinks her mother got scared and confused, so she left.
South Detectives has alerted all city homeless shelters and area hospitals in case Lombardo shows up there, Cooney said.
To report information, call South Detectives at 215-686-3013.
Rinick’s brother charged
Some might view it as sticking up for his little bro. But the feds call it witness intimidation.
Two weeks after a jury convicted Billy Rinick of the murder of Adam Finelli, and less than a week after the same panel returned a life sentence, Rinick’s brother, John, 37, found himself in hot water with the law.
In a two-count federal indictment filed by U.S. District Attorney Patrick Meehan on Nov. 5, John Rinick is accused of intimidating a witness in Billy’s federal drug trial in January. Rinick was sentenced to 30 years in jail for cocaine trafficking in that case.
The indictment charges John Rinick with threatening Sam Pollino with bodily injury because of Pollino’s testimony. According to the affidavit, Rinick approached Pollino’s truck while stopped at a traffic light and said, "You ratted on my brother … we are going to get you and we are going to f—–g kill you." When Pollino stopped for the next traffic light, Rinick and an unidentified male ran toward the truck, banged on the window and stole Pollino’s tool box, according to the affidavit. The unidentified man then swung his fist at the passenger in Pollino’s truck, but missed, the affidavit stated.
Pollino filed a police report and told law enforcement officials he feared for his life based on Rinick’s statement.
Convicted in tavern holdup
One of three men accused of barging into a tavern two-and-a-half years ago and robbing employees and patrons was sentenced to 10-20 years for the crime.
Early last week, a jury convicted Frederick Dukes, 29, of two counts of robbery, one count of conspiracy and one count of possession of an instrument of crime, said Assistant District Attorney Melissa Francis of the Repeat Offenders Unit.
Dukes was one of three armed men who entered Star Track Lounge at 22nd and Ellsworth on Feb. 13, 2001, and robbed patrons, two female employees and the owner, the prosecutor said.
The defendant, who lives a few blocks from the watering hole, made off with more than $2,000, Francis said.
Dukes has a prior record — stemming back to age 12 — that includes five convictions, seven juvenile adjudications and three parole and probation violations, the attorney added. The convictions and adjudications were for receiving stolen property, aggravated assault and escape.
"I think it’s a fair sentence with his record and the severity of the crime," Francis said of the bar holdup. "You can’t walk into a place where people are having a drink after work, put a gun in their face, demand all their money and expect to not do some time in prison."
