Man executed on street

Police are still seeking the gunman who fatally shot a West Philly man on Snyder Avenue.

Fourth District police responding to a report of a shooting on the 800 block of Snyder Avenue on Saturday night found a victim clinging to life, police said.

Robert Allen Jr., 37, of the 5000 block of North 19th Street, had been shot in the head; a medic pronounced him dead at 10:30 p.m., said Inspector Bill Colarulo of the Police Public Affairs Unit.

Investigators said a handgun was used in the slaying, but as of yesterday, they had no motive, the inspector said.

To report information, call the Homicide Division at 215-686-3334/5.

Teen reports rape

A 14-year-old told police she was raped by an employee at a local market who asked if she would help him unload sodas in the back room, authorities said.

The incident happened at 4:30 p.m. May 18 at Broad Street Grocery Store on the 1400 block of Tasker Street, said Capt. John Darby of the Special Victims Unit. The victim did not report the attack to authorities until two days later, added the captain.

While investigators have what Darby called "a few good leads," no arrest had been made as of yesterday, confirmed Lt. Tom McDevitt.

The victim entered the store on the day of the incident to buy a drink, police said. A male she knew who worked there asked her to come to the back room to get sodas to load in a refrigerator, said police.

Once the girl was in the room, the male allegedly pushed the victim on top of a freezer, held her down and had intercourse with her, said Inspector Bill Colarulo of the Police Public Affairs Unit.

The victim was taken to Thomas Jefferson University Hospital after the incident, Darby said.

Special Victims detectives also are investigating a similar incident that took place two days later in a Southwest Philly store, said Darby. Despite some striking similarities between the attacks, the captain said they do not believe they are related.

In the Southwest incident, a 16-year-old girl entered a store and was taken to a back room, where a male employee she knew attempted to rape her, Darby said.

Police brought in a 61-year-old male for questioning, but he was released pending further investigation, the captain noted.

To report information, call the Special Victims Unit at 215-685-3264.

Bad blood leads to stabbing

A feud between two neighbors from the 2500 block of South Philip Street was the apparent motive behind a stabbing shortly after midnight Sunday, police said.

Police arrested the 17-year-old suspect after the 22-year-old victim positively identified him, said Sgt. Steve Biello of South Detective Division.

The pair were arguing around 12:10 a.m. on the 300 block of Snyder Avenue when the teen allegedly produced a knife and plunged it into the victim’s right arm, the sergeant said.

The victim was taken by private auto to St. Agnes Medical Center, where he was in good condition after the stabbing.

A short time later, police stopped a male who fit the description provided by the victim, Biello said.

The teen was charged with aggravated and simple assault, possession of an instrument of crime and related offenses.

Man knifed in fight

Police arrested a male who they say knifed a 39-year-old man during an argument Saturday night.

Alan Anderson, 34, of the 1300 block of Alter Street, was charged with aggravated assault, recklessly endangering another person and possession of an instrument of crime, said Sgt. Steve Biello of South Detectives.

Investigators said they don’t know what sparked the 9 p.m. argument that ended with the victim being knifed in his left arm and stomach.

The victim was taken to Jefferson Hospital in stable condition.

Store closed in L&I sweep

The Department of Licenses and Inspections conducted a series of raids Tuesday on stores that have ignored repeated citations for selling tobacco products to minors. One of the 10 stores shut down was Dragon City, 523 Washington Ave.

All the markets involved in the bust had sold tobacco to minors on at least three separate occasions from October 2003 to April, said L&I spokesperson Andrea Swan.

On April 21, L&I sent letters to store owners stating that the department would shut them down if they continued the illegal activity, Swan said. After that, every location received a follow-up inspection in May. Minors hired by the Health Promotion Council (a group affiliated with the Department of Health to educate minors about the dangers of smoking) went to the stores and were permitted to buy tobacco products, said the spokesperson.

"All of these stores in May sold tobacco products to minors after receiving our letter, which led us to no conclusion but to shut down these stores," Swan said.

Any merchant that wants to reopen must enter a formal agreement with L&I and pay a $10,000 conditional fine.

Held for trial in stadium attack

The man accused of sexually assaulting a 17-year-old girl during a Sixers game at the Wachovia Center was ordered Monday to stand trial on all charges.

Joseph Rota, 40, of Voorhees, N.J., is charged with attempted rape, attempted involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, attempted sexual assault, aggravated indecent assault, indecent assault, indecent exposure and simple assault, said Assistant District Attorney Rich Depisio.

The defendant was working for the center’s food distributor when he allegedly met the victim at a bar on March 12, officials said. After chatting her up, he pulled her into a secluded area, covered her mouth and sexually assaulted her around 10:45 p.m., said police.

The victim did not report the incident until four days later. At the time, detectives said they were not sure why the victim waited to tell police.

Rota will be arraigned June 14.

Union clash ends in plea deal

Three local men pleaded guilty Friday to their part in a 2001 incident outside the home of union leader John Dougherty.

Mark Leuzzi Sr., 43, and his son Mark Jr., 23, pleaded guilty to criminal conspiracy, simple trespass and criminal mischief, said Cathie Abookire, a spokesperson for the District Attorney’s Office.

Common Pleas Judge Pamela Dembe sentenced the father and son to three years of probation and ordered them to pay $1,500 restitution, Abookire said. The Leuzzis also were ordered to stay away from Dougherty and his family.

Anthony Pepe, 26, pleaded guilty to criminal mischief and conspiracy. Pepe received one year of probation and also was issued a stay-away order, Abookire said.

The prosecution said the three defendants vandalized and trashed the union leader’s front door and porch on Oct. 14, 2001. According to police reports, the suspects threatened Dougherty on the porch of his home on the 1900 block of East Moyamensing Avenue around 2:30 a.m. Abookire said the motive for the incident was not addressed in court. However, over the last few years, the Leuzzis and Dougherty have been embroiled in ongoing feuds.

Back in 2001, the Leuzzis opened Rockers Bar on the 400 block of Snyder Avenue, two blocks away from Dougherty’s Doc’s Union Pub at 1843 S. Second St. Some local union members were upset that Rockers’ owners completed renovations inside the tavern without hiring union workers, the Review reported at the time. The discord led to many brawls in front of Rockers due to people trying to stop patrons from entering the Leuzzis’ bar.

Curfew violators beware

Police have issued a reminder to all those age 18 and under:

If you are out between 10:30 p.m. and 6 a.m. Sunday through Thursday or midnight and 6 a.m. Friday and Saturday, you are in violation of curfew laws.

Curfew fines for juveniles are $25-$300 and $50-$300 for parents and business operators.

All Review police, court and fire-related items are collected from or verified by official sources.

Items are roughly prioritized by urgency or news value. If you have already reported an incident or missing person to police and would like to inform us, call crime reporter Lorraine Gennaro at 215-336-2500 ext. 124.