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Rudolph Gary lost his job as a Philadelphia Police officer when he gunned down a relative during a playful summertime water gun battle in Point Breeze. He now could spend up to 60 years in jail for it.
The now-28-year-old of Northeast Philly agreed to a negotiation by his lawyer Fortunato N. Perri Jr. and Assistant District Attorney Deborah Watson-Stokes April 25. Instead of going to trial where he would have faced first-degree murder, Gary pled to third-degree murder, for which he will serve 20 to 40 years in prison plus another five to 20 years for aggravated assault, according to court records. He also will pay $300 in restitution and $1,031 in court costs.
Gary gunned down Howard Williams, 22, on his street — the 1800 block of Hoffman Street — at 6:43 p.m. May 2, 2011, according to police. His shots also struck a 26-year-old woman in the leg and grazed an 18-year-old man’s leg.
“Basically it was a hot day,” Watson-Stokes said. “People were on the block having a water gun fight. Mr. Gary’s girlfriend got squirted with water by mistake.”
The water also hit her cell phone and a fight broke out, she said. Gary retrieved his gun told everyone to back up when Howard said “something to the extent of ‘There’s kids out here. Put the gun away,’” Watson-Stokes said.
Gary, who was in the process of getting divorced from Williams’ sister, then shot his brother-in-law once, which is believed to have been the blow to the neck that killed him, and then fired a few more times, she said.
Gary apologized to the family for his actions in court.
“At the time of the sentencing, I think the plea agreement allowed the family to heal,” Watson-Stokes said.
Contact Managing Editor Amanda L. Snyder at asnyder@southphillyreview.com or ext. 117.
Also in April’s Court Report:
Convicted of slaying boyfriend
17-year-old sentenced for shooting
In this week’s Police Report:
Time of need
Fatally pierced
Evening walk turns violent
Almost captured
No entry allowed
Stop, rob and run
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