Murder suspect sought

A convicted felon on parole allegedly stabbed his girlfriend to death and cut her teenage son inside the home the three shared on the 2000 block of Mercy Street, police said.

Jerome Finch, 44, was on parole after serving almost 20 years for a March 15, 1988, homicide in the 17th District, according to court records.

The victim in Saturday’s attack, Deidra Burkett, 42, was stabbed several times in the chest and pronounced dead by a medic at the scene at 11:25 p.m., about 10 minutes after police arrived at the home.

"The motive was money," Homicide Sgt. Bill Gallagher told the Review, adding Finch had asked Burkett for cash — for what and how much, police don’t know — and then slayed her in an ensuing argument. Investigators did not recover the blade.

The victim’s 15-year-old son was slashed across the chest when he tried to intervene; he was treated and released from Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

Monday, the sergeant believed Finch was probably still in South Philly. In addition to murder and related offenses for Burkett’s death, an attempted murder charge and related offenses will be tacked on for the son, Gallagher said.

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

Fugitive caught

An 18-year-old fugitive who ran in the Oct. 4 Review was captured Friday after detectives received various tips on his whereabouts.

Basil Bey, from the 2300 block of Tasker Street, was picked up at about 4:30 p.m. in Southwest Philly and charged with three counts of attempted murder, aggravated assault, recklessly endangering another person and firearms offenses for a 9:30 p.m. Sept. 12 shooting on the 900 block of South 18th Street, Lt. Frank Vanore of the Police Public Affairs Unit said.

Police spotted Bey exiting a home on the 6200 block of Elmwood Avenue and getting into a 2000 Honda Accord, which they followed to the 6300 block of Grays Avenue and then arrested the teen without incident.

In the September shooting, Bey allegedly walked up to a 19-year-old and opened fire, striking him in the left arm and left buttock while the victim and a 16-year-old female friend were standing on the block. The wounded teen went to Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in stable condition, while the girl was not injured in the incident.

A 57-year-old woman also escaped harm when a bullet sailed through her home on the block.

Gang beats man

One of four young men who converged on a 20-year-old used a bottle in Saturday’s 2:45 a.m. mugging on the 1400 block of Wharton Street.

The victim was walking when the offenders approached, one striking him about the head with a bottle while the rest rummaged through his pockets, Detective Joe Chiaro of South Detective Division said.

The victim was treated and released from Methodist Hospital for lumps, cuts and bruises to his head.

Taken in the robbery was $22 and a cell phone valued at $100.

The perpetrators were described as black, but the victim only got a good look at two who were ages 18 to 20, about 5-foot-8 to 5-foot-10 and wearing dark clothing.

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

Whacked with a gun

A man sustained multiple cuts to the head when a robber pistol-whipped him and snatched his shopping bag full of newly purchased clothes.

The victim was walking on the 2600 block of Dudley Street at about 11:15 p.m. Saturday when the offender approached and demanded the bag at gunpoint, Detective Joe Chiaro of South Detectives said. When the 49-year-old refused, the assailant beat him about the head with the pistol.

The victim did not seek hospital care and the perpetrator was described as black, age 18 to 20, about 5-foot-9 and wearing a gray hooded shirt and dark pants.

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

Pistol found in car stop

Tinted windows were the least of a man’s problems after cops pulled him over and spotted a gun in a shoulder holster he was wearing.

Terrance Exum, 20, from the 1700 block of Snyder Avenue, was charged with carrying without a license and having an unregistered firearm, Detective Joe Chiaro of South Detectives said.

The offender was driving a white 1997 Chevy Lumina at about 10:45 a.m. Saturday near 18th Street and Snyder when officers stopped him for "excessively dark windows," Chiaro said. In addition to the summary violation for that, Exum was slapped with the more serious offense for packing a loaded Smith & Wesson 9mm.

House of worship vandalized

Police are looking for information on the vandalism of Church of the Lord, 701 S. 22nd St.

At about noon Saturday, someone threw a brick through a stained-glass window, causing $1,000 in damages, Lt. Joe Dougherty of South Detectives said, adding that was all police knew at this time.

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

Winter safety tips

The Philadelphia Fire Department has issued the following safety tips for the winter season:

• If using space heaters, allow 36 inches in all directions;

• Never leave a candle burning unattended or while sleeping;

• Have chimneys inspected yearly;

• Open a window for ventilation when using portable kerosene heating appliances;

• Make sure your home has smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors.