For the second time in this still-new year, a victim was found fatally shot on the streets of Point Breeze.
Desmond Bates, 34, of the 1800 block of Wilder Street, was gunned down Saturday night on his block, said Sgt. Bob Kuhlmeier of the Homicide Division.
Police found the victim at 8 p.m. suffering from multiple gunshot wounds to his head and torso, the sergeant said. Bates died at the scene.
A witness told homicide detectives a man in a blue vehicle was spotted fleeing the area, added Kuhlmeier. Earlier this week, investigators had no motive or suspects.
On Jan. 13, police found a 16-year-old shooting victim on the 1300 block of Point Breeze Avenue. He died of his wounds within hours.
To report information in either case, call the Homicide Division at 215-686-3334/35.
Injured in ambush
An 18-year-old shooting victim was fighting for his life after emergency surgery Tuesday at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.
When 17th District officers found the victim at 9:35 a.m. Tuesday on the steps of a home on the 1400 block of South Chadwick Street, he was drifting in and out of consciousness with a gunshot wound to his hand, said Sgt. Steve Biello of South Detective Division.
But doctors at HUP discovered two more wounds — one to his back and another to his right shoulder, the sergeant added.
Investigators said the gunfire started on the 1300 block of South Bancroft Street and followed the teen to the 1600 block of Reed Street. Ballistics evidence was found at the scene.
To report information, call South Detectives at 215-686-3013.
Deadly cold claims victim
It was so cold in Edna Van Dyke’s house that the water in her toilet had frozen, said a detective who found the 89-year-old dead in her home Jan. 14.
Van Dyke, from the 1000 block of South 19th Street, was the second cold-weather-related death in the city, officials said.
Concerned neighbors phoned police to report they had not seen Van Dyke since the afternoon of Jan. 10, said Sgt. Steve Biello of South Detectives.
Police from the 17th District, with help from fire department workers, gained entry to Van Dyke’s home around 8 p.m. and found her dead in a second-floor bedroom, the sergeant said.
The Medical Examiner cited the cause of death to be hypothermia and heart disease, said spokesperson Jeff Moran.
Another victim of gunfire
A man from the 500 block of Sigel Street was admitted to the hospital in critical but stable condition after being shot twice in his shoulder, police said.
The victim told detectives he had been walking on the 1600 block of South Sixth Street on Jan. 14 when a man approached him and opened fire, said Sgt. Steve Biello of South Detectives.
The 27-year-old was taken to Thomas Jefferson University Hospital after the 12:50 p.m. shooting.
The victim is not cooperating fully with police, and detectives have no motive or suspects.
To report information, call South Detectives at 215-686-3013.
Ticket ticks him off
Police arrested a man after he allegedly punched a Philadelphia Parking Authority employee who had ticketed his car.
Tyrone Tappe, 40, from Upper Darby, was charged with aggravated and simple assault, recklessly endangering another person and making terroristic threats, said Sgt. Steve Biello of South Detectives.
Tappe’s alleged outburst took place Jan. 14 around 3:30 p.m. after he discovered the ticket on his car that was parked on the 2000 block of Oregon Avenue, the sergeant said.
The suspect allegedly threw the ticket to the ground and then delivered two punches to the 55-year-old parking authority employee’s chest, said Biello.
The worker refused hospital treatment.
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Running for trouble
Running one’s car and leaving it unattended in an attempt to warm up the vehicle could result in stolen wheels.
"Twenty percent of cars stolen the last two months have been a result of that," said Capt. Jerrold Bates of the 17th Police District. Before leaving for work in the morning, some people will go outside, start their car and then go back inside for a while, the captain noted.
"When they come out of their house, their car is gone," he said.
Police are urging residents to stay with their autos if they choose to warm them up.
17th District seeking volunteers
The 17th Police District is looking for people of all backgrounds to join its Police District Advisory Council.
The PDAC was created by former Police Commissioner Willie Williams to facilitate communication between the police department and the citizens it serves. The responsibilities of PDAC members are to identify community problems, analyze their causes and develop methods of resolving them to enhance quality of life, improve public safety, reduce fear and ultimately lower crime.
PDAC meets the fourth Tuesday of each month, 6:30 p.m., at 17th District headquarters, 20th and Federal streets. Anyone interested in becoming a member should call Officer Donita Nesmith at 215-685-1747.
