Chester Twp. police search for 2 shooting suspects
CHESTER TOWNSHIP >> Warrants were issued Tuesday for the arrest of two Chester men for attempted homicide in connection with a weekend shooting in Toby Farms, which was preceded by an argument between the victim and his two assailants, according to charging documents.
Police Chief Kenneth Coalson credited “a multitude” of tips from the community for helping to identify Dominique Lewis Wadley, 27, of the 1000 block of East Williams Circle, and Richard Harris, 32, of the
3300 block of West 13th Street, as the suspects.
Now, investigators are appealing to the public for information regarding the whereabouts of Wadley and Harris, the chief said Tuesday night. Both men are wanted for attempted homicide and related assault and firearms offenses.
Meanwhile, the shooting victim, identified as
22-year-old Raequan M. Purnsley of Chester Township, is recovering from what Coalson said does not appear to be life-threating injuries. He was shot three times.
It was about 1:08 a.m. on Oct. 7 when township police were dispatched to the Bridgewater Inn in the 1100 block of Powell Road for a reported gunshot victim, a male lying the parking area in front of stores.
While en route, Cpl. Joseph Hughes and Patrolman Jerome Kennard were told the reported victim was being transported to the hospital by an individual in a private vehicle. They were also told that the suspects in the shooting fled in a red sedan toward Sixth Street.
While Hughes located and secured the crime scene on Powell Road, Kennard responded to Crozer-Chester Medical Center. The victim was undergoing emergency surgery.
Shortly after the incident, Brookhaven Police Officer Matthew Hughes saw a red 2006 Buick Lucerne driving erratically in the area of the Brookhaven Shopping Center. After further observation, Hughes conducted a traffic stop on the Buick. A black female driver and two black male passengers in the rear seats were detained. Hughes noted the unoccupied front passenger seat.
“Officer Hughes did conduct further investigation and as a result did determine, as the occupants did acknowledge, that vehicle was fleeing after shots had been fired in the Toby Farms areas,” according to the probable cause affidavits for the arrest of both Wadley and Lewis, authored by Chester Township Police Sgt. Merritt J. Harman IV.
All three individuals were taken to Brookhaven Police Department and the vehicle was towed by Twin Oaks Towing and secured for further investigation.
At that point, Hughes contacted Harman regarding the incident. Harman responded to the crime scene, where he was joined a short time later by Cpl. Leonardo Ibarra. While Hughes collected video surveillance from multiple stores in the area of the shooting, Ibarra conducted initial interviews with multiple witnesses.
As a result of witness interviews, information indicated the vehicle stopped by Hughes in Brookhaven had been the red vehicle reported fleeing the scene of the shooting.
Meanwhile at the scene, authorities recovered five fired .380-caliber shell casings.
According to the affidavit, witnesses told investigators that the victim had argued with four other individuals, a female and three males, just prior to the firing of multiple shots. Investigators were told that as the situation escalated, the victim and a larger, heavy set black male were yelling and screaming at each other. Then a short, thin, black male in all dark clothing threatened to shoot the victim. After that, shots were heard being fired and those two males fled the area with two other individuals – a female driver and another black male passenger - in a red vehicle.
Back at Brookhaven police headquarters, the three individuals detained in the red Buick were advised of their rights and then interviewed about the incident. Through the course of the questioning, it was determined that the front-seat passenger fled the red vehicle prior to being stopped by Hughes. But those detained were unable to identify the individual who fled.
The three detained individuals were eventually released, according to Coalson.
Through further investigation, Coalson said it was determined that Harris, who was among those previously detained in Brookhaven, matched the description of the heavyset male who had been arguing with the victim.
Harris was named a suspect, along with Wadley whom authorities say was the individual who fled prior to the vehicle stop, according to Coalson.
Police obtained video showing Harris, whom investigators know from prior contact, exiting the rear, driver’s side passenger seat of the red vehicle. With Harris were two other black males, including Wadley, who was also known to police through previous contacts, according to the charging document.
Video footage depicts Harris appearing to have an argument with victim but then retreating to the vehicle as Wadley entered and continued with the argument.
Video images then show Harris back in the car, seated in the rear passenger side. As Wadley approaches and reaches his hand in the rear r passenger side window, and it appears as an object is handed to Wadley from Harris.
“Harris and Wadley were observed then following the victim as they continue to walk away from the vehicle, toward the 1100 block of Powell Road, still arguing,” charging documents state. “Shortly after, multiple shots were fired.”
Investigators also determined through Facebook and other social media that Wadley had a public profile under the username of “Draco Dyme,” and that in reviewing his profile, he posted photographs of himself and the other individuals from the vehicle.
Additional charges filed against Harris and Wadley include aggravated assault, simple assault, reckless endangerment, terroristic threats, stalking and related firearms offenses. Neither Harris nor Watley are permitted to use or control a firearm, according to the charging document.
Anyone with information is asked to call Chester Township police at 610-494-0211 or 911.