A 46-year-old man succumbed to his injuries hours after a shooter fired a hail of bullets at him on the 1200 block of South Bonsall Street, police said.
Larry Brinson, of the 1400 block of South Ringgold Street, was pronounced dead at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania around 12:40 a.m. Monday, said Officer Maria Ibrahim of the Police Public Affairs Unit.
Police found the victim on a curb around 8:20 p.m. Sunday, said Sgt. James Schrack of South Detective Division.
Brinson had been shot about eight times in his chest, abdomen and legs, the sergeant said. An argument might have sparked the gunfire, police said.
To report information, call the Homicide Division at 215-686-3334/5.
Drugs eyed in hotel shooting
One man has been arrested and detectives are searching for another in connection with a hotel shooting early Monday that critically wounded a local man, police said.
Rocco Marinucci, 29, was still in critical but stable condition Tuesday at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, said Capt. Joe O’Brien of South Detectives.
Marinucci suffered several gunshot wounds, including one in his chest, the captain added.
The gunfire erupted around 2:40 a.m. outside a room at the Holiday Inn at 10th Street and Packer Avenue, O’Brien said.
The victim was at the hotel with a friend and two other males, the captain said.
"It appears it might be some type of narcotics transaction. There was a small amount of narcotics recovered and some money. It appears the narcotics transaction might have turned into a robbery," O’Brien told the Review.
Later that afternoon, detectives nabbed the alleged gunman, Jamal Ali, 24, of the 1600 block of Reed Street, said Inspector Bill Colarulo of the Police Public Affairs Unit. Ali was charged with two counts each of attempted murder, aggravated and simple assault and recklessly endangering another person, along with three counts of Violation of the Uniform Firearms Act and one count of conspiracy, Colarulo said.
Published reports identify Marinucci as the son of Rocco Marinucci, an organized-crime figure who was executed at a club at Eighth and Wharton streets in 1982.
A high-ranking police source confirmed that Marinucci is the son of the late mobster.
To report information, call South Detectives at 215-686-3013.
Bad blood leads to stabbing
A feud between two roommates from the 2100 block of Reed Street was the apparent motive behind a Dec. 14 stabbing, investigators said.
The 35-year-old victim was taken to HUP in critical condition after he was knifed in the chest around 4 p.m., said Inspector Bill Colarulo of the Police Public Affairs Unit.
Detectives charged Rafa Muhammad, 24, with aggravated and simple assault, possession of an instrument of crime and related offenses.
Mugger bites his victim
When a man tried to fight off a would-be robber, the culprit bit his hand so badly, the victim needed stitches at Methodist Hospital, police said.
The incident happened shortly before 3 a.m. Dec. 15 on the 600 block of Johnston Street, said Inspector Bill Colarulo of the Police Public Affairs Unit.
The 62-year-old victim told investigators he was inside his car on that block when a man he knows by the name of Mike opened his car door and said, "Give me the money," the inspector said.
As the offender reached for the man’s money, a struggle ensued and the robber bit the victim.
The culprit stole $200 cash and a checkbook, police said.
To report information, call South Detectives at 215-686-3013.
Arrest was no gas
Narcotics Field Unit South officers locked up a Northeast man who they said was selling nitrous oxide — better known as laughing gas — out of a Grays Ferry business.
Joseph Trantas, 28, was taken into custody around 3:30 p.m. Friday, said Narcotics Bureau Chief Inspector Keith Sadler.
The investigation began after the Department of Licenses and Inspections confiscated several tanks of nitrous oxide at the Dec. 5 Eagles game. The department learned the tanks were purchased from a company that was possibly located in Grays Ferry.
A Narcotics Field Unit South officer contacted South Philly Welding Supply Company at 2438 Federal St. and asked to purchase a tank of laughing gas, Sadler said.
The officer purchased the gas from an employee later identified as Trantas.
On Friday afternoon, officers served a search and seizure warrant and arrested the suspect.
Inspectors from L&I; accompanied police and confiscated 106 bootleg movie DVDs, along with additional nitrous oxide tanks that were returned to the company owner.
Trantas’ preliminary hearing is scheduled for today.
Eagles’ practice QB faces DUI
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Philadelphia Eagles practice squad quarterback Andy Hall, 24, was arrested after a drunken-driving accident early Saturday that injured two people, police said.
Hall was driving his Jeep Cherokee north on Broad Street near Pattison Avenue around 1 a.m. when the incident occurred, said Cpl. Jim Pauley of the Police Public Affairs Unit.
After the football player made a U-turn into the southbound lanes of Pattison, he collided with a Ford Mustang at Broad, the corporal said.
Hall’s jeep flipped over upon impact and two people riding in the Mustang suffered minor injuries and were taken to a local hospital, said Pauley.
Hall was not injured in the collision.
Police smelled alcohol on the player’s breath and charged him with two counts each of driving under the influence, aggravated assault and recklessly endangering another person, Pauley said.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Feb. 4.
Hall began his collegiate career in 2000 at Georgia Tech but transferred to the University of Delaware in 2002, where he led the Blue Hawks to an NCAA Division I-AA title in his senior year.
The Eagles signed Hall in June 2004.
Suspicious bag closes subway
A canvas gym bag left under a stairwell inside the subway station at Broad and Tasker caused a commotion yesterday around 9 a.m.
As per policy with items left unattended, police checked out the bag and determined it did not contain a bomb, said Third District Capt. Mike Weaver.
Still, commuters had to take buses for about an hour while the subway was shut down.
Robbers use Muslim dress as cover
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The FBI is requesting the public’s help in finding the three people who held up a bank Monday morning while wearing Muslim garb. The trio entered United Savings Bank, 1501 Packer Ave., shortly after 10 a.m., said FBI spokesperson Jerri Williams.
Witnesses told investigators that one of the offenders was a male wearing a dark-colored burka and toting a semiautomatic handgun.
Another offender was described as a female wearing a navy-blue burka and black boots. She was unarmed, police said.
The gender and attire of the third robber is unknown, but that person also was armed with a handgun, Williams said.
While yelling commands, one of the culprits vaulted the counter while another walked around the teller area and a third controlled the lobby area, said the spokesperson.
Employees and customers were ordered to keep their hands up and to face the walls, Williams said. No one was injured.
After removing all the security dye packs from drawers, the culprits jumped into a silver Cadillac and made their escape with an unknown amount of cash.
Investigators are exploring the possibility that the individuals involved in Monday’s robbery also might be responsible for other recent bank and business heists in the Philadelphia area — including 10 at gas stations and convenience stores in Southwest and West Philly. In several of those holdups, the offenders wore Muslim garb, Williams said.
To report information, call the FBI at 215-418-4000.
–by Lorraine Gennaro
