Chester man charged with attempted murder in Dec. shooting

A 20-year-old city man has been arrested and charged with a December robbery and shooting, according to a release from the Chester Police Department and Delaware County District Jack Stollsteimer Thursday.

Wanyaa Powell is facing charges of attempted homicide, aggravated assault, robbery, theft, reckless endangerment and related offenses for the Dec. 30 shooting, according to the release.

Chester police detectives responded to a report of a gunshot victim at Crozer-Chester Medical Center and spoke with a person who had suffered a gunshot wound to the back of the neck, according to the release. The victim allegedly identified Powell as the shooter.

The victim told detectives that after the shooting, Powell instructed the victim to turn around and said, “I gotta kill you bro, because I don’t want to go to jail,” according to the release. Powell then allegedly took the victim’s Xbox, cell phone and car keys before fleeing the scene.

Investigators led by Chester Detective Benjamin Thomas learned that Powell had outstanding warrants for his arrest in Chester for drug violations and in Salem County, N.J., for robbery, according to the release.

Police executed a search warrant at Powell’s home and recovered some the items from the robbery, the release says.

“Getting this defendant off our streets is a positive step for the community, and it is a credit to the investigative skill of Detective Thomas that he was able to make this arrest,” Stollsteimer said.

Powell was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Vincent D. Gallagher, who set bail at 10% of $750,000. Powell was committed to the county jail in Concord after failing to post bail and is awaiting a preliminary hearing scheduled for March 24.