Police probe double homicide

The homicides were the fourth and fifth in Coatesville this year

COATESVILLE >> The Coatesville Police Department is investigating a double homicide following a shooting early Wednesday.

Police identified the victims as David Wayne Fitzsimmons, 56, of Coatesville, and William Chance, 46, of Philadelphia and Coatesville.

The homicides were the fourth and fifth in the city this year.

Police were dispatched to the 500 block of East Lincoln Highway for a report of shots fired on Wednesday at 3:21 a.m. Upon arrival, police said they located Fitzsimmons in the back of an apartment, dead from an apparent gunshot wound.

Police said Chance was transported by ambulance to Paoli Hospital with a gunshot wound and he later succumbed to his injuries.

Police said they reportedly discovered a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia inside the apartment.

“Once again, we will attribute probable cause of the homicide to the violent drug trade that still seems to affect the city of Coatesville,” Police Chief John “Jack” Laufer said.

The investigation is ongoing. Coatesville police are working with the Chester County Detectives.

“The city and the police department are fully aware of the negative impact that homicides can have on the community, which can be affected in multiple ways, from people needing to feel safe in their homes and to walk the street, to investors feeling comfortable to enter into some type of business venture.” — Coatesville Police Chief John “Jack” Laufer

Police have made arrests in the first three homicides that occurred in the city this year.

“We’re disappointed to see another homicide occur in the city of Coatesville,” Laufer said. “We are currently actively investigating the most recent homicide.”

There were no homicides in 2013 and 2014. The first homicide since 2012 occurred in October 2015.

“The city and the police department are fully aware of the negative impact that homicides can have on the community, which can be affected in multiple ways,” Laufer said, “from people needing to feel safe in their homes and to walk the street, to investors feeling comfortable to enter into some type of business venture.” The first homicide this year began as a robbery of an associate. A shooting claimed the life of a 22-yearold Philadelphia man on March 5. He was attending college in Coatesville and killed off campus.

The second homicide in the city this year was a stabbing on May 11 that took the life of a 55-year-old Coatesville man. An associate of his was arrested for homicide. Police also investigated two shootings that month.

The third homicide occurred on Aug. 26 when a 24-year-old man from Pottstown was shot 11 times, shortly after leaving the area where the victim conversed with the alleged suspect. Police said witnesses said the suspect allegedly sold drugs in the area. The relationship between the victim and the man arrested for homicide was unclear.

Police ask anyone with information about the latest homicides to contact Detective Kevin Campbell at the Coatesville Police Department at 610-3842300 or Chester County Detectives at 610-3446866. Anonymous tips can be submitted via text message to TIP411 (847411) with the key word “Coatesville” or by downloading the Coatesville Police Mobile Phone App.

“We’re disappointed to see another homicide occur in the city of Coatesville.” — Coatesville Police Chief John “Jack” Laufer