Delco teen faces trial in East Norriton fatal shooting
EAST NORRITON >> A 17-yearold Delaware County man faces a trial on charges he fatally shot a Philadelphia man during an altercation inside an East Norriton bowling alley.
Jamel Barnwell, of the 100 block of Beverly Avenue, East Lansdowne, after a preliminary hearing before District Court Judge Marc Alfarano, was ordered to stand trial on charges of first- and third-degree murder, attempted murder, aggravated assault, possession of a firearm by a minor, possession of a weapon and recklessly endangering other persons in connection with the alleged 6:40 p.m. Feb. 20 shooting at the Our Town Alley Bowling Lanes that claimed the life of Frank Wade.
Barnwell faces a formal arraignment hearing on the charges in county court next month, after which a judge will set a trial date. Barnwell remains at the Montgomery County Correctional Facility without bail while awaiting trial.
Barnwell is charged as an adult in connection with the alleged fatal shooting.
Montgomery County Deputy District Attorney Samantha Cauffman is prosecuting the case. Defense lawyer Carrie Allman represents Barnwell.
The investigation began about 6:43 p.m. Feb. 20 when East Norriton police responded to the bowling alley at 2912 Swede Road for a report of shots fired. Arriving officers found Wade, 29, of Philadelphia, dead inside the bowling alley, according to the criminal complaint filed by Montgomery County Detective Gregory Henry and East Norriton Detective Michael Henricks.
A subsequent autopsy determined Wade died as a result of multiple gunshot wounds and the manner of death was determined to be homicide.
Four others, all of Philadelphia and related to each other, suffered gunshot wounds and were treated at area hospitals.
During the investigation, detectives who processed the scene located 15 fired .45-caliber cartridge casings, court documents indicate. Detectives also recovered five projectiles, one in ceiling tiles and four in the floor area where Wade was fatally wounded.
“There were numerous other bullet strikes in the ceiling and walls,” Henry and Henricks alleged in the criminal complaint.
A witness told detectives Wade and several family members were wrapping up their bowling when she heard a commotion near the front of the bowling alley. As Wade and the other four victims went to investigate the commotion, witnesses heard gunshots. A witness told detectives an armed male “fired his gun
until it was empty” and then fled from the bowling alley, detectives alleged.
Detectives reviewed video surveillance from the bowling alley that depicted Barnwell and two other males enter the business about 6:39 p.m. A short time later, a physical altercation occurred with the victims and Barnwell allegedly pulled a handgun with an extended magazine from inside his jacket and fired multiple shots toward Wade and the other victims, according to the arrest affidavit.
One of the shots stuck Wade and caused him to fall to the ground. As Wade tried to crawl away to safety, Barnwell could be seen shooting him several more times until Wade eventually stopped crawling and collapsed, detectives alleged.
Authorities have not revealed a motive for the alleged shooting.
Barnwell and the two men who allegedly had accompanied him fled from the bowling alley, leaving behind three cell phones, one of which belonged to Barnwell, according to the arrest affidavit.
There were 50 to 75 patrons, including young children, inside the bowling alley at the time the shots were fired, Henry and Henricks alleged.
When detectives searched the contents of a cell phone left at the scene and allegedly belonging to Barnwell, they found stored photographs that depicted Barnwell holding a dark colored handgun with an extended magazine, according to the criminal complaint.
“The stored photographs of the handgun and magazine are similar to the handgun used in this shooting,” Henry and Henricks alleged in court documents, adding a photograph also showed Barnwell wearing a sweatshirt that matched one that was worn by the shooter depicted in bowling alley video surveillance.
Barnwell surrendered to authorities a day after the alleged fatal shooting.