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A woman from the South of South neighborhood allegedly threw an unknown clear liquid in a 39-year-old’s face before igniting the liquid with a Bic lighter.
Doreen Cuffie, 45, of the 800 block of South 16th Street, was identified by the victim around 8:24 a.m. Friday and arrested at 10:20 a.m. Sunday on the 1100 block of Kimball Street, Detective Danielle Tolliver of South Detective Division said. The two women have known each other for more than 10 years.
The 39-year-old and a friend went to Cuffie’s apartment early on April 23 where they partied with Cuffie and an unknown man, Tolliver said. At about 7 a.m., the younger woman gave Cuffie money to buy more beer. However, when she returned, she did not bring back any alcohol, the woman told police. The two argued as Cuffie, who is believed to have been holding a plastic bottle containing an unknown liquid, allegedly splashed it on the other female’s face and lit it on fire before fleeing the scene. The liquid has not been recovered.
The 39-year-old suffered third-degree burns as her face, hair and clothing caught on fire, Tolliver said. Fire rescue transported the woman to Temple Hospital. She was later transferred to Temple Burn Center. As of Saturday, she was incubated and in critical condition.
Cuffie was charged with first-degree attempted murder, arson, aggravated assault, criminal mischief and related offenses.
Double shooting arrest
Police have arrested and charged a Queen Village man, who has been accused of shooting two innocent bystanders last week, with four counts of attempted murder.
Sharief Durbin, 22, of the 900 block of South Orianna Street, who is “no stranger to law enforcement,” is believed to have “aimlessly” fired six to 10 bullets at a group of males at 4:02 p.m. on the corner of 20th Street and Snyder Avenue, Capt. Laurence D. Nodiff of South Detective Division. said at last Thursday’s press conference. However, the bullets grazed the back of a 24-year-old’s head as she exited the corner store and struck a 27-year-old, who was carrying her 2-month-old son in her arms and pushing her 2-year-old daughter in a stroller, in her right arm. The children were not injured and the motive for the shooting was still under investigation.
Both women were transported to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania where they were treated and released.
Durbin surrendered to police at South Detectives at 1:45 p.m. April 21, added Detective Danielle Tolliver, of South Detectives.
The area where the April 19 shooting occurred has become a hot spot for crime, including the March 7 murder of a Azzim Dukes, of the 1600 block of Montrose, followed by shots fired at the 17-year-old’s vigil that night as well as a March 8 shooting where a 30-year-old man was struck in the chest. Also three blocks west, Ronald Woodley, 20, of West Oak Lane, was killed March 31 by a bullet to his head and on April 10, a landlord allegedly shot his 47-year-old tenant. Police want to send a clear message that the violence will not be tolerated.
“Over the last few months, there has been some increased violence in the area,” Nodiff said. “As I said before, we don’t take these shootings lightly and we will in fact beef up patrols in the area, investigate, track you down and we will arrest you and put you in jail.”
Durbin also was charged with four counts each of aggravated assault, possession of an instrument of crime, simple assault and recklessly endangering another person along with firearm violations, according to court documents.
Teen charged with attempted murder
A teen was arrested last week for shooting a 16-year-old on a Grays Ferry street.
Quadir Jefferies, 18, of the 2100 block of Bailey Terrace, was arrested 5:45 p.m. April 21, at South Detective Division, 24th and Wolf streets, Detective Danielle Tolliver of South Detectives said.
Jefferies was allegedly arguing with the teen at 8:24 p.m. April 20 when he is believed to have said, “Go ahead young boy before I bang you,” Tolliver said. He then allegedly shot at the teen and chased him as he attempted to flee on the 2700 block of Snyder Avenue. The 16-year-old was struck in the left bicep and transported to HUP in stable condition.
He was charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault, simple assault, possession of an instrument of crime, recklessly endangering another person and firearm violations.
Up to 54 years
Sammie Campbell, 22, of the 1700 block of McClellen Street, was sentenced to 27 to 54 years for attempted murder and other offenses Friday.
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He was convicted of two separated shootings that occurred on Sept. 12, 2007. At 3:30 p.m., he used an innocent bystander as a shield on the 400 block of Mifflin Street and six hours later he fired 30 shots at Anthony Reid, striking him five times.
He was found guilty of possession of an instrument of crime, recklessly endangering another person, a firearms violation and sentenced six to 12 years for the former incident. And for the latter, he was sentenced to 17-and-a-half to 35 years for attempted murder of the of the first degree, criminal conspiracy and possession of an instrument of crime.
Campbell was arrested on Oct. 30, ’07 for selling drugs in Southwest Philadelphia. Police found 7.8 grams of heroin and a loaded 9mm pistol on him at the time. While he refused to give his name, police ran his prints and realized he was wanted for the two shootings. He was found guilty for a firearm violation and possession for the most recent incident and was sentenced to three-and-a-half years.
Sentenced for shooting a toddler and teen
After a deadlocked jury resulted in a mistrial last year, a Whitman man was found guilty and sentenced the second time around for shooting a toddler and a teenager four years ago.
Rico Lofton, 35, of the 400 block of Durfor Street, will serve 30 to 60 years for criminal conspiracy and three counts of aggravated assault with no parole, according to court documents.
Lofton was convicted March 8 of firing at a group of teens on the 600 block of Jackson Street at 3:10 p.m. Aug. 9, 2006 because he believed the teens beat up his son, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
Instead, the shots struck two innocent bystanders — an 18-month-old boy, who was inside his stroller as his 60-year-old grandmother pushed it, and a 17-year-old boy. The grandmother ran to Seventh Street while screaming for help and holding her grandson until a man offered to drive the two to Methodist Hospital. The boy’s left hand required a few stitches while the teen required surgery for a bullet to his left leg
Bar shooting
Police were summoned to a Grays Ferry bar Friday where the victim was unconscious with a wound to the back of his head.
Patrons at Pour House Bar, 29th and Reed streets, informed police that the 39-year-old man had been shot around 1:26 a.m., Detective Danielle Tolliver of South Detective Division said. Police transported the man, who was in critical condition, to HUP, where he was treated.
The shooter was described as black, age 25 to 30, 5-foot-8, with a small beard and wearing an orange hoody and dark blue jeans. He was last seen running with another, who was described as black, age 23 to 25 and wearing a black shirt and blue jeans, north on the 1300 block of South Dover Street.
To report information, call South Detectives at 215-686-3013.
Taking from the parish
Police arrested a neighborhood man, who has been accused of consistently stealing from Stella Maris’ collection box.
About a week after the school was slated to close, Joseph Green, 45, of the 2600 block of South Ninth Street, allegedly tried to steal from the church, 2901 S. 10th St, Detective Danielle Tolliver of South Detective Division said. At 11:30 a.m. April 17, the church’s head maintenance engineer said he witnessed Green via the church’s security cameras opening the box in the chapel with a wire hanger. When he confronted the man, Green allegedly fled. The maintenance worker chased Green and said, “give me the money.” Green is believed to have obliged by handing over $9 before fleeing the area.
The employee along with Pastor Peter J. DiMaria learned the man’s identity, Tolliver said. The worker provided police with surveillance video of an additional seven dates when Green allegedly took approximately $75 total from the collection box dating back to March 7.
Green was arrested at his home at 2 p.m. April 20 and charged with two counts of theft — unlawful taking and receiving stolen property — and possession of an instrument of crime.
Shots from behind
Two men were struck by gunfire while driving in Point Breeze early Friday.
At 1:40 a.m., the two were leaving 21st and Titan streets when they heard gunshots coming from behind the vehicle as they drove west on the 2100 block of Titan, Detective Danielle Tolliver of South Detective Division said. The 23-year-old, who was driving, was struck in his head and legs while the 31-year-old passenger received a wound to his left bicep.
The driver continued driving to a nearby family member’s home, Tolliver said. That relative transported both in stable condition to Methodist Hospital where they were treated.
Police did not rescover anything at the scene or find any witnesses to the incident.
To report information, call South Detectives at 215-686-3013.
Lovers quarrel
An ex-girlfriend’s new boyfriend slashed the woman’s ex-boyfriend’s arm inside his Grays Ferry home that he still shares with the woman.
Around 5:20 p.m. George Hopkins, 46, of North Philly, allegedly slit his girlfriend’s ex-boyfriend’s left arm causing a 2-inch gash, Detective Danielle Tolliver of South Detective Division said. The incident occurred in the ex-lovers’ home on the 2600 block of Reed Street where they are still residing until the home is sold.
The 49-year-old man was transported to Methodist Hospital and may have required stitches, Tolliver said. The knife used in the attack was not recovered.
Hopkins, who allegedly fled to 26th and Reed streets, was arrested there 10 minutes later and charged with aggravated assault, simple assault, possession of an instrument of crime and recklessly endangering another person.
The 48-year-old woman was transported to HUP with complaints of chest pains, and has not responded to requests from police for an interview, Tolliver said.
Pissed off
After confronting a mother who allowed her son to pee on his home, the man was beat up by her husband.
The 53-year-old man confronted the mother of the child that was urinating on his home at 3:30 p.m. Friday on the 1900 block of South Ninth Street, Detective Danielle Tolliver of South Detective Division said. After a brief dispute, she told him, “I’m going to get my husband.”
Less than an hour later, Joel Oree, 46, of the 1700 block of South Ninth Street, knocked on the man’s door, Tolliver said. Once the door opened, he allegedly grabbed the man’s shirt, pulled him on to the sidewalk and punched him in the face multiple times with a “cold, hard object.” The assault continued up the street to Ninth and Dudley streets when the man collapsed to the ground. Oree allegedly continued to punch the man and is believed to have slammed his head into the curb.
The man was transported to Methodist Hopital in stable condition with several large lacerations swelling to his face along with bruising and abrasions to his legs and chest, Tolliver said. During an interview with the victim at the hospital at 6 p.m., he directed police to the offender’s home and police arrested Oree in his backyard. He was charged with aggravated assault, unlawful restraint, false imprisonment, simple assault, possession of an instrument of crime and recklessly endangering another person.
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