Domestic dispute turns deadly in Upper Darby

UPPER DARBY » A township man who was shot in the abdomen during an apparent domestic-related incident Monday night died a short time later in surgery, one week before his 25th birthday, Police Superintendent Michael Chitwood said Tuesday.

While circumstances involving the death of Seifuddin Collier remained under investigation, Chitwood said they have identified the alleged gunman and he is claiming self-defense. The superintendent did not release the name of the alleged 21-year-old gunman because he has with a crime.

“This is an ongoing Chitwood said.

It was about 9:30 p.m. Monday when police were dispatched to the area of Midway and Millbank roads. Arriving officers found Collier with a single gunshot wound to the abdomen. Collier was transported to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center where he underwent emergency surgery.

“He died on the operating room table,” Chitwood said.

After the shooting, according to Chitwood, the alleged gunman returned to his home in the 500 block of Littlecroft Road, where he called 911 and reported that he not been charged investigation,” had just shot a man.

“The 911 dispatcher told him to go outside and put the gun the middle of the street, which he did,” Chitwood said. Police subsequently recovered a .9 mm handgun, loaded with the exception of one bullet, the superintendent said, noting the individual has a permit to carry a concealed weapon.

Recovered on the ground at the scene with Collier were two additional firearms, a .22-caliber and a .9 mm, both fully loaded, Chitwood said. Collier did not have a permit to carry a concealed weapon, the superintendent said.

At this point, Chitwood said the shooting appears to have resulted from a “complicated” domestic-related incident that seemingly involves the former girlfriend of the gunman, as well as a woman presumed to be her cousin who police suspect may have provided a firearm to Collier just prior to a confrontation with the gunman.

“The Readers’ Digest version is there was an ongoing dispute between the victim and the shooter,” Chitwood said.

According to Chitwood, the gunman and a woman were getting into a car when they reportedly were confronted by Collier.

“Collier allegedly approaches the shooter, words are exchanged. (Collier) racks a .9 mm ready to fire at the gunman who then pulls out his 9 mm and shoots (Collier) in the stomach,” Chitwood said.

According to the Chitwood, the female identified as the cousin of the ex-girlfriend of the shooter owns a .9 mm and has a permit to carry a concealed weapon.

“How the victim obtained the .9 mm is part of the investigation, as well as how the other firearm got there,” Chitwood said.

No charges have been filed against anyone in this incident, said Chitwood, noting that the final determination involving any charges will be made by the Delaware County District Attorney’s Office.

Collier’s death marks the second homicide in Delaware County for 2018.