Homicide investigators need witnesses to come forward to solve the horrific slaying of a 16-year-old last Friday on the corner of 23rd and Watkins streets, Sgt. Tim Cooney said.
"We know people are out there who saw what happened. We’re talking 4 o’clock on a sunny Friday afternoon in a busy residential area. People have to step forward and start talking," Cooney told the Review.
Rhamik Thomas, 16, from the 1700 block of Natrona Street in North Philly, was shot at least 11 times head to toe, Cooney said. Police took the teen to Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, where he died at 4:42 p.m., about 20 minutes after police found him.
Investigators are trying to determine whether one or possibly two gunmen pumped the more than 20 9mm rounds, the sergeant said.
To report information, call the Homicide Division at 215-686-3334/5.
Four charged with attempted murder
After police witnessed three males brutally attacking another, they charged them and a getaway driver with attempted murder and a host of other offenses.
The officers were on patrol in their cruiser at about 2:15 a.m. Saturday when they heard the victim screaming and saw three males kicking and striking him on the 1700 block of Shunk Street, Detective Joe Chiaro of South Detective Division said. One offender, later identified as 25-year-old Douglas Caffarella from the 1400 block of Porter Street, allegedly held a gun to the victim’s head while he kicked and beat him, the detective said.
Two other assailants were later identified as Andrew Boyle, 27, from the 200 block of Harbor Drive in Claymont, Del., and Vincent DeFelice, 25, from the 2300 block of South Mole Street, Chiaro said.
The 33-year-old who sustained multiple fractures and cuts to his face, along with a broken nose, was taken by police to Methodist Hospital, where he was admitted in stable condition.
While detectives are still searching for a motive, they do know shortly before the incident the victim was inside McCusker’s Tavern, 17th and Shunk, talking to some people. When he exited, one of the suspects pounced and began pummeling him, knocking him to the ground, where the other two joined in the attack, the detective said. Police do not know if the suspects came from McCusker’s.
When the cruiser pulled up to the scene, the alleged attackers fled and got into a nearby 1998 Dodge Avenger, driven by a man later identified as Keith Carney, 25, from the 4500 block of Vista Street in the Northeast.
Police tailed the vehicle to the 2600 block of South 18th Street, where they pulled it over and placed all four occupants under arrest, Chiaro said.
When Caffarella got out, he informed police he was carrying a .380-caliber semiautomatic weapon, which cops then took out of his waistband, Chiaro said. On DeFelice’s lap, police spotted a pair of metal knuckles, the detective said.
In addition to attempted murder, all four were charged with aggravated and simple assault, possession of an instrument of crime, possession of an offensive weapon, firearms violations and recklessly endangering another person. For leading the cops on a chase, Carney was slapped with fleeing police.
The victim was still hospitalized as of earlier this week.
Victim in guarded condition
Police responding to a report of a person with a gun Friday found an 18-year-old shot on the 1900 block of Wilder Street.
Shortly before 11 p.m., police transported the teen to HUP, where he was listed in guarded condition with a gunshot to his right upper back, Detective Joe Chiaro of South Detectives said.
Investigators continue to search for the shooter.
To report information, call South Detectives at 215-686-3013.
Knifed and robbed
A man and woman resorted to violence after a man they tried to rob resisted, police said. The incident happened at 2:20 a.m. Friday on the 700 block of Earp Street.
When the 23-year-old refused to turn over his cash, the man produced a knife and stabbed him in the right shoulder, while his accomplice rummaged through his pockets and helped herself to $200, Detective Joe Chiaro of South Detectives said.
The victim was in stable condition at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital.
To report information, call South Detectives at 215-686-3013.
Robbing the state
For a second time in just over a month, the Wine and Spirit Shoppe at 2429 South St. was held up.
In the latest incident last Thursday at 8:30 p.m., a shotgun-wielding masked bandit walked away $356 richer, Detective Joe Chiaro of South Detectives said.
With a stocking over his head and firearm in hand, the offender ordered the 43-year-old manager behind the counter to clean out the register. Described as black, in his late 20s with a medium complexion, a thin build and wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and same color pants, the offender fled north on 25th Street on foot.
In the April 27 crime, a man snatched two bottles of booze after taking $600 from the register. That perpetrator was described as black, about 30 years old, 6 foot and 180 pounds with facial hair; he was wearing a gray sweatshirt, blue sweat pants and white sneakers.
To report information on either robbery, call South Detectives at 215-686-3013.
Shot three times
With two bullets to his left foot and another to his buttocks, a 32-year-old managed to drive himself to HUP, where he was treated and released.
The man told police he was inside a home on the 1300 block of Colorado Street May 23 at about 11:40 a.m. when three men wearing dark-colored hoodies banged on the front door looking for his cousin, who they claimed owed them money, Detective Joe Chiaro of South Detectives said. Forcing their way inside, the trio then shot the victim before fleeing the scene on foot in an unknown direction.
To report information, call South Detectives at 215-686-3013.
