Police investigated 7 homicides in Coatesville

City police have made arrests during the investigation of the seven homicides in Coatesville this year, and are seeking help from the public in the unsolved cases.

Coatesville police responded at 5:08 a.m. on Sept. 29 to the area of Modena Alley and Willow Alley for a report of shots fired. Upon arrival, police observed victim Damon Eric Wylie lying in the alleyway suffering from gunshot wounds. Police said Wylie, 50, of Coatesville, was transported to the hospital where he died.

Detectives said they did not believe that there was any con-

nection between this homicide and the double homicide that occurred almost 24 hours earlier. Both investigations are ongoing.

Police were dispatched to the 500 block of East Lincoln Highway for a report of shots fired at 3:21 a.m. on Sept. 28. Upon arrival, police said they located David Wayne Fitzsimmons, 56, of Coatesville, dead from an apparent gunshot wound.

Police said they also located William Chance, 46, of Philadelphia and Coatesville, who suffered from a gunshot wound. He was transported to the hospital where he later died. 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 in an interview with the Daily Local News.

A week later, a veteran was slain.

With the help of witnesses, Coatesville police and Chester County detectives arrested Sheron “Ryda” Jaeln Purnell, of Coatesville, on Nov. 2 for the murder of Kevin Paul Jalbert, 36, of South Carolina, on Oct. 3. Jalbert, a veteran, had been treated at the Coatesville Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center.

Coatesville police were dispatched on Oct. 3 at about 6:39 p.m. to the area of Sixth Avenue and Belmont Street for a report of a person shot. Upon arrival, police found Jalbert lying on the grass in the 600 block of Belmont Street, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.

The District Attorney’s Office released the following information based on witness accounts and video recordings: Jalbert came into contact with a group of kids that he yelled at, and they walked away. When Purnell showed up, he reportedly engaged in a verbal confrontation with Jalbert. They both walked up White Alley, where police said the confrontation reportedly became physical.

Jalbert was unarmed. Purnell reportedly pulled out a semi-automatic handgun and shot Jalbert several times, according to witnesses and police. Several adults and kids who witnessed it then scattered from the scene.

There were no homicides in the city in 2013 and 2014. The first homicide since 2012 occurred in October 2015. Police said those arrested in the first three homicides this year in Coatesville were an associate of the victim.

The murders were one of the top stories in the Daily Local News in 2016.

The first homicide this year in the city began as a robbery of an associate. A Lincoln University student was killed off campus on March 5 after he and another unidentified student were involved in a shooting at approximately 10:22 p.m., according to Coatesville police and university officials.

Upon arrival to the area of South Fifth Avenue and Olive Street for a report of a gunshot, Coatesville police found a man suffering from a gunshot wound to the neck. Police said that Christopher Robinson, 22, of Philadelphia, died on the way to the hospital.

Police said that Evander Wilson, 24, of Coatesville, drove Robinson and the other student to South Fifth Avenue and Olive Street in Coatesville. Police said Wilson contacted multiple people to reportedly arrange the robbery of Robinson and the other student. Police said that during the course of the robbery, one of the three masked men shot and killed Robinson. Police said Wilson has been charged with second-degree homicide, robbery, conspiracy and related charges.

Police arrested Andre Rashodd Smith for the homicide of his acquaintance, Grayling Chambliss, who police found dead on arrival on May 11. It was the second homicide in the city this year, and city police also investigated two shootings that month.

Upon arrival, police discovered Chambliss, 55, of Coatesville, had died from a stab wound to his chest. They said they also found Smith nearby with injuries. Police said Smith allegedly stabbed Chambliss outside of his residence and then fled inside his residence where he reportedly jumped from a second story window to East Diamond Street below. Smith sustained a fractured ankle and a severe fracture of his right lower leg. Police said it was unclear why Smith jumped.

Coatesville police and Chester County Detectives arrested Lenn “Butter” Tucker on Sept. 9 for the Aug. 26 murder of Alex Hartzell, 24, of Pottstown. Police said Hartzell was shot 11 times shortly after leaving the area where he conversed with Tucker at about 6:05 a.m. Police said witnesses told them the suspect allegedly sold drugs in the area. The relationship between Tucker and Hartzell was unknown.