Chester cops make three arrests in two homicides
CHESTER » Police announced arrests in two homicide investigations this week.
The first came Monday, when Police Commissioner Steven Gretsky issued a release on the arrest of 25-year-old Lamar Eric Linehan for the Oct. 10 shooting death of Balir Starkey, 34.
Officers responded to the area of the 2200 block of Crosby Street about 10:41 p.m. Oct. 10 for a report of shots fired. The call was upgraded to a shooting moments later, according to the release.
Upon arrival, police found Starkey lying on the sidewalk across from 2218 Crosby S. He appeared to have suffered numerous gunshot wounds and was bleeding profusely. Paramedics began to treat Starkey on scene then rushed him to Crozer-Chester Medical Center, where he succumbed to his injuries.
Linehan was identified as the shooter following an investigation by Chester City Detective Joseph McFate and Delaware County Criminal Investigation Division
Detective Timothy Deery, according to the release.
He has been charged with first- and third-degree murder, conspiracy, and firearms offenses. Linehan was preliminarily arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Dawn Vann Dec. 30, according to online court records, and committed to the county prison in Concord without bail. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing Jan. 11 before MDJ Wilden H. Davis.
Gretsky issued a second release Wednesday indicating 18-year-old Zaheem Jamal Allen and a 16-year-old juvenile have been arrested for the Sept. 26 shooting death of 21-year-old Wynear Taylor.
In that case, police were dispatched to the area of Seventh Street and Highland Avenue for a report of shots fired at about 4:17 p.m. Officers found Taylor inside a red and white Nissan Maxima, apparently unconscious and suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.
Paramedics pronounced Taylor dead at the scene. Officers recovered eight fired nine-milimeter shell casings from the area, according to the release.
Chester City Detective
David DeFrank and county Detective David Tyler identified Allen and the juvenile as suspects following an investigation, according to the release. The juvenile is being charged as an adult and both are facing charges including first-degree murder, the release says.
Both defendants were committed to the county prison following arraignments where they were denied bail, according to the release. Allen was scheduled for a preliminary hearing Wednesday before Magisterial District Judge David R. Griffin.