Shootings, car fire and school bus crash roil Chester
CHESTER » A busy weekend for police that included at least three shootings and a car fire continued into Monday morning with an accident involving a Chester Upland School District bus that sent seven students and the bus driver to the hospital with unspecified but apparently minor injuries.
It was shortly before 9:30 p.m. on Dec. 1 that officers received a call for shots fired in the area of the 900 block of John Street, a report that was updated to a vehicle fire at 935 John St., according to a press release issued Monday afternoon by city police Capt. James P. Chubb.
According to Chubb, arriving officers saw a blue 2007 Infiniti G35S with the rear of the vehicle on fire. Officers also noticed the vehicle appeared to have one gunshot hole through the rear driver side window and blood on the driver’s seat.
Officers then saw a Hispanic male, later identified as 33-yearold Alfredo A. Dajer-Guzman, lying on the ground near the passenger side of the vehicle. Chester Housing Police were the first to arrive on location and removed the victim from the vehicle. The victim was transported to Crozer-Chester Medical Center by paramedics.
“It is believed at this time that the victim was attempting to complete a deal that he made on ‘Offer Up’ when this incident occurred,” Chubb said. Anyone with any information regarding this incident is asked to contact city Detective Brian Pot at 610447-8431 or bpot302@chesterpolice.org
A second shooting incident was reported shortly before 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 2. At that time, officers were dispatched to Crozer for a report of a walk-in gunshot victim. The victim was identified as 24-year-old Brandun Sharpe, who appeared to have suffered a single gunshot wound to the right side of his neck, according to Chubb.
“Sharpe stated that he was in the area of 10th and Parker streets when he observed a vehicle pull past him, an occupant of the vehicle then began to shoot in his direction,” the police release states. “Sharpe further stated that after being shot, he ran to a relatives residence so she could be driven to Crozer Hospital for treatment.” Anyone with any information regarding this incident is asked to contact city Detective Michael Canfield at 610-447-7813 or mcanfield268@chesterpolice.org.
According to Chubb, police were dispatched to the area of the first block of East 21st Street, Kitchen 99 store, for the report of a gunshot victim on Dec. 3, at 8:43 p.m. Police found the victim, identified as 25-year-old Curtis Murray, inside the store, bleeding from the torso and face.
Murray was suffering from an apparent gunshot wound to the left side of his torso. He also sustained a deep laceration on his face over his eyebrow. Paramedics transported Murray to Crozer for further medical treatment.
“Murray stated he was shot outside of the store and ran inside to evade his attackers,” the release states. “It appears as if robbery was the motive at this time.” Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact city Detective Steven Byrne at 610-447-8430 or sbyrne271@chesterpolice.org.
The incident involving the bus was reported at 7:43 a.m. Monday. Officers were dispatched to the area of the 1400 block of West Second Street. On arrival, police found the school bus and a second vehicle, a blue Nissan Quest.
According to Chubb, both vehicles were traveling West on Route 291 when the Nissan Quest attempted to change lanes. While doing so, the Nissan struck the school bus.
“The school bus was from Chester Upland School District and had 29 students on board. The bus driver and seven students were taken Crozer” where they expected to be evaluated and then discharged, Chubb said. No further information regarding injuries as immediately available.
The uninjured students were subsequently transported to their respective schools by a separate school bus. The accident remained under investigation.