Landlord shoots tenant

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An off-duty officer called police when he spotted a 47-year-old man on the 2200 block of Snyder Avenue bleeding and spitting upblood around 11:38 a.m. Saturday, Detective Danielle Tolliver of South Detective Division said. The victim is believed to have told the officer, who provided first aid while awaiting police and a medic, that his landlord, Harold Blackson, 50, of the 1900 block of South Lambert Street, had shot him inside his dwelling on the same block following an argument. Blackson allegedly fled in a black and white taxi.

The man was transported to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in critical condition, Tolliver said.

Police located Blackson driving his taxi on the 1700 block of Taylor Street, arrested him and charged him with attempted murder, aggravated assault, firearm violations and related offenses. Blackson allegedly had a loaded AMT .380 caliber pistol in his possession when he was arrested, Tolliver said.

Caught after the act

A Grays Ferry man, who demanded money as he held up a couple at gunpoint, fell for a police trap and was arrested hours later April 7.

Leevin Parker, 19, of the 1500 block of South Bambrey Street, approached the driver’s side of a 21-year-old man’s car as he and his 19-year-old girlfriend were parked on the 1500 block of South Stillman Street around 2 a.m., Detective Danielle Tolliver of South Detective Division said.

Parker allegedly pointed a revolver at the man and demanded money, but when the couple handed him $15 and two cell phones, he was not satisfied. He is believed to have demanded more cash and cocked the gun, so the man offered to drive him to an ATM to withdraw more funds, Tolliver said. Parker allegedly hopped in the backseat behind the driver and was taken to the Hess gas station, 3300 Grays Ferry Ave. The 21-year-old exited the car, but on the way to the ATM, he saw a police car and tried to flag it down. Parker fled from the car and the girlfriend drove off leaving her boyfriend behind, but it is unclear if police saw the 21-year-old.

The man went home before going to check on his girlfriend at her Delaware County home, Tolliver said. When he returned home at about 4 a.m., he reported the crime to police. Police called the girlfriend’s cell phone, which the suspect allegedly answered. A female officer posing as the woman set a time to meet him near his home on the 2600 block of Tasker Street where police nabbed Parker with the girlfriend’s BlackBerry.

Parker was charged with robbery, theft, simple assault, kidnapping, false imprisonment, firearm violations and related offenses.

Missing teen found in river

A 14-year-old who had been missing since Christmas Eve was discovered in the Schuylkill River April 8. His death has been ruled a suicide.

The Philadelphia Marine Unit pulled the body from the river near the Girard Point Bridge 10:26 a.m. April 8, Detective Danielle Tolliver of South Detective Division said. The body was described as a white or Asian male, age 20 to 50 and wearing a dark-colored hoody with sunglasses in the pocket, black shorts, black socks and sneakers.

The Medical Examiner’s Office identified the body as Jason Vu, of the 2200 block of South 23rd Street, via dental records retrieved from his dentist, Tolliver said. The cause of death was suicide by drowning.

Vu was reported missing by his mother at 7:15 p.m. Dec. 24 after Vu’s brother discovered a suicide note on the family computer. He was last seen 8 a.m. Dec. 24 when he said goodbye to his 4-year-old sister before leaving the house.

Vu was described as 5-foot-4 and 140 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a black hoody and blue jeans.

Sentenced for DUI

A 20-year-old will serve seven to 14 years for the death of a St. Louis woman and the injuries her friend sustained when he drove into them as they were leaving a Phillies game two years ago.

Joseph Genovese, 20, of the 3100 block of South Juniper Street, was sentenced Tuesday to four to eight years for homicide by a vehicle for driving under the influence plus another three to six years for aggravated assault by a vehicle for driving under the influence, according to court documents. He faced up to 27 years for the charges he pled guilty to Feb. 16, according to the District Attorney’s office.

According to police, Genovese was driving under the influence when he drove into Cindy Grassi, 43, and Sandra Wacker, 36, both of St. Louis, as they crossed Broad Street at Curtin around 6:30 p.m. July 10, 2008. The two Cardinals fans were in town to catch a ballgame at Citizens Bank Park.

However, Grassi died from her injuries to her head and body two days later at 10:40 p.m. at HUP while Wacker was in the intensive care unit with brain trauma, broken ribs and a dislocated shoulder.

In state prison, Genovese will undergo drug treatment, as well as psychiatric and psychological testing in addition to serving 150 hours of community service with Mothers Against Drunk Driving and paying $5,774.71 in restitution and court costs, according to court documents.

Members of Grassi’s family flew in to Philadelphia for the sentencing and a statement written by Wacker was read in court, according to the District Attorney’s Office.

“The family of Cindy Grassi and Sandra Wacker are all satisfied with this verdict and thankful that they have closure after two years of waiting for this day,” Assistant District Attorney Beth McCaffery said in a statement.

Shot in the stomach

A 23-year-old was shot once in his abdomen by a man on a bicycle Sunday evening.
The man was on the 500 block of Moore Street around 10:55 p.m. when he was struck, Detective Danielle Tolliver of South Detective Division said. Police transported him to HUP. He was transferred in critical condition to Jefferson Hospital Trauma Center where he received surgery, Tolliver said.

The shooter was described as a black male, medium complexion, age 20 to 25 with braids and wearing a white T-shirt and dark pants.

To report information, call South Detectives at 215-686-3013.

Watch men

Two armed men broke into a Grays Ferry home forcing a resident to the ground and taking his Rolex watch.

Around 9:04 p.m. Saturday, the duo entered the dwelling on the 2600 block of Mifflin Street carrying black handguns, Detective Danielle Tolliver of South Detective Division said. One man pointed a gun to the 42-year-old resident’s head and told him to get on the ground when both men asked, “where’s the money?” When the man claimed he did not have any, the men rummaged through his pockets and took his Rolex, valued at $7,000, from his wrist.

They searched the rest of the house but came up empty handed fleeing out the front door with the jewelry. A third male left the area with them, Tolliver added.

The scene was processed and fingerprints were collected.

The two who entered the home were described as black, age 20 to 25, 6 foot and thin. One was bald and the other had short hair. The third was black with a medium complexion, mid-20s, 5-foot-10, thin, with a mustache and beard and wearing all black.

To report information, call South Detectives at 215-686-3013.

Vehicle shot

A man heard what sounded like fireworks while sitting in his car in Point Breeze Sunday evening.

When police arrived, the 53-year-old was informed his car was struck by three gunshots, Detective Danielle Tolliver of South Detective Division said. He was parked in his 2005 Hyundai  facing northbound on the 1500 block of South Garnet Street around 5:11 p.m. when the shots struck his car.

An air conditioner in the front window of a 51-year-old man’s home on the block also was struck once, Tolliver said.

Ballistics were recovered from the 1900 block of Tasker Street.

To report information, call South Detectives at 215-686-3013. SPR

Contact Staff Writer Amanda Snyder at asnyder@southphillyreview.com or ext. 117.

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