Marcus Hook man gets convicted of opening fire on Trainer police officers
MEDIA COURTHOUSE >> A Marcus Hook man has been convicted of attempted homicide for firing at a Trainer police officer after a pedestrian stop last year.
Eric Lamont Jackson, 26, of the 1000 block of Yates Street, was also found guilty of assault of a law enforcement officer, aggravated assault and person not to possess a firearm for shooting at Officer Steve DiBello following a pedestrian stop Aug. 17, 2017, according to Delaware County District Attorney Katayoun M. Copeland.
“In this case, the defendant fled from police, failing to follow multiple orders to stop, and then fired his weapon directly at Officer DiBello more than five times, clearly with the intent to kill him,” said Copeland in a release announcing the conviction. “As a result of his violent and reckless actions, the defendant faces a lengthy prison sentence.”
Jackson faces a maximum 40 to 80 years in state prison, including a 20-year mandatory sentence for committing assault on a law enforcement officer, according to the release. Sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 3 before Delaware County Common Pleas Court Judge Richard M. Cappelli.
According to the D.A.’s Office, the Trainer Police Department had received numerous complaints from residents regarding thefts from vehicles in the months before the Aug. 17 confrontation. Trainer officers DiBello and Mitch Holobowicz, working in an undercover capacity, observed two males that night walking west on 10th Street and looking into several vehicles, according to the release.
The officers activated their lights and initiated a pedestrian stop at 10th and Langley streets at approximately 2:06 a.m. While the officers were speaking with the men, Jackson said he “does not have time for this f——— s—-” and began to flee south on Langley Street on foot, according to the release.
DiBello chased after Jackson, who ignored repeated verbal commands to stop and show his hands. At one point, Jackson turned his whole body and pulled a firearm from his waist band, aiming it directly at DiBello, according to the release.
DiBello took cover behind a parked Nissan as Jackson fired multiple shots in the officer’s direction, striking the Nissan five times.
The release says DiBello then saw Jackson run off again, heading south on Sunset Street. Officers continued the foot pursuit, but eventually lost sight of Jackson.
Approximately 30 minutes after officers resumed patrol, witnesses in the area contacted police and stated an unknown male was inside a fenced property, but fled on foot, according to the release.
Jackson was later apprehended at 12th and Keystone streets and taken to the Trainer Police Department, where he waived his Miranda warnings and provided a recorded statement admitting that he ran from police due his state parole status for a robbery conviction in February 2012, according to the release.
County Detective Christopher Tankelewicz responded to assist in the investigation and process the crime scenes. During this process, a Taurus Millennium G2 9mm semi-automatic handgun was recovered from the area directly below where Jackson had climbed over a fence in the course of his flight, according to the release.
“I would like to commend Officers Steve DiBello and Mitch Holobowicz of the Trainer Borough Police Department, who responded courageously that evening to an extremely dangerous situation,” Copeland said. “And also commend the outstanding teamwork demonstrated by Assistant District Attorney Brian Doherty and our detectives with the Criminal Investigation Division who processed the crime scene, conducted forensics on the cellphone, retrieved surveillance, and provided other investigative measures that resulted in the arrest and conviction of this dangerous repeat felon.”
The investigation was conducted by Tankelewicz along with CID detectives Edmond J. Pisani, Daniel McFarland, James Reardon, David McDonald, Louis Grandizio, and Sgt. Kenneth Bellis. Doherty prosecuted the case on behalf of the commonwealth.