THE HUNT IS ON
POLICE ID SUSPECT IN HAVERFORD SLAYING AS PHILLY MAN
The Philadelphia man identified as a suspect in the seemingly unprovoked fatal ambush shooting of a 29-yearold John Le in Haverford on Saturday was on probation following a 2014 guilty plea in a drug delivery case, according to online court records.
Tuesday afternoon, authorities identified Derrick Hershal Rollins, 24, as the man wearing a red hoodie whose image was captured by a surveillance camera running away from the scene of Saturday’s shooting in the township’s Ardmore section. Images show Rollins running in the 2300 block of Haverford Road where Le — who is being remembered as “a friend to everyone” — was shot just as he left a pizza shop and was walking to a friend’s nearby apartment, about 6:10 p.m.
Described as armed and dangerous, Rollins, who also known as “Twit” and Derrick McNeil according to authorities, remained on the run as of late Tuesday. Rollins has addresses in the 5100 block of Locust Street and the 4000 block of North A Street, both in Philadelphia. He is described as black, 6 feet tall, about 160 pounds with a closecropped beard and mustache.
Earlier Tuesday, Delaware County District Attorney Jack Whelan said ballistics linked cartridge casing recovered from the fatal shooting scene to a shooting on 77th Street in Philadelphia’s Overbrook Park section, where a gunman sprayed 17 shots at two men just prior to the homicide. The two victims in that incident were uninjured.
“Information developed as a result of a tip from a resident who saw a vehicle registered to Rollins leaving the area of the incident in Haverford Township which also matched the description of the vehicle and suspect involved in a shooting incident in Philadelphia approximately 40 minutes prior to the Haverford incident, Philadelphia Southwest Detective Division was able to secure a warrant for the residence of Rollins,” Haverford police stated Tuesday in a prepared release. “Philadelphia police, along with Haverford Township detectives executed the search warrant … The suspect was not located at his residence, however, police were able to recover the vehicle believed to be used in both incidents.”
Authorities recovered a gray Volvo believed to belong to Rollins from the Locust Street address.
“We will not stop until we get this person in custody,” Philadelphia Police Lt. John Walker said at a Tuesday afternoon press conference.
Though authorities believe Rollins is in the city of Philadelphia, Walker noted that he has contacts all over the region.
Walker said a gun was not recovered during the search. The gun used in both the Philadelphia and Haverford shootings was described as a .40-caliber semi-automatic handgun, according to Walker.
Reiterating Whelan and Haverford Police Chief John Viola, Walker described Rollins as “a dangerous individual.”
Whelan on Monday said the gunman had already walked past Original Eagle Pizza before Le exited the shop.
“He seemed to double back and follow him,” Whelan said of the suspect. “We have no motive, no reason why this young man was gunned down and assassinated.”
When police arrived, the wounded Le was being tended to by his friend, according to Viola. Le was transported by ambulance to Lankenau Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.
According to published reports, Lee resided with his parents in Narberth, was a graduate of Lower Merion High School and Temple University, and he enjoyed disc golf and tennis.
A gofundme account has been established for Le, with funds going directly this family to help with funeral costs.
“A horrible tragedy to a friend to everyone,” the account reads. “One of the nicest, most genuine friends I’ve ever had. A son, uncle, a brother.”
According to Viola, Le’s family has requested privacy as they mourn their loss.
On Facebook, Rollins goes by Derrick Twit Rollins. According to his page, he is engaged and hails from North Dakota. There are also photos of a child identified as Derrick Jr.
According to online court records, Rollins was sentenced May 6, 2014, to a maximum five years of probation after he entered a negotiated guilty plea on a February, 2014, charge of possession with the intent to deliver or manufacture.
Online court records also show that Rollins was arrested July 24, 2014, on charges including possession of a firearm prohibited, firearms not to be carried without a license and carrying a firearm in public in Philadelphia. Though he was held for trial on the charges, a motion for release was filed Oct. 20, 2015, under Rule 600 – which guarantees the right to a speedy trial for all criminal defendants. The disposition of that motion was not immediately available.
According to Viola, Rollins’ criminal history dates back to when he was a juvenile.
“He has a long criminal history and he clearly should not have been on the street,” Viola said. “This guy is a dangerous criminal. He shot at two people, firing 17 shots, unprovoked. Then he comes to Haverford where he shot and killed an innocent victim and from all we can tell, that was unprovoked.”
A $5,000 reward has been posted by the Delaware County District Attorney’s office for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Le’s killer. Anyone with information is asked to contact Haverford police at 610-853-9213 or the Citizens Crime Commission at 215546-TIPS.