Teen charged in bowling alley shooting
1 dead, 4 injured in weekend attack at family venue
EAST NORRITON >> A 17-year-old Upper Darby man is behind bars awaiting a preliminary hearing 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, was arraigned on Monday before District Court Judge Marc Alfarano 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 is being held at the Montgomery County Correctional Facility without bail to await a March 8 preliminary hearing before Alfarano on the charges.
“This violent 17-year-old is now safely behind bars,” Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin R. Steele said on Monday. “I want to thank the media and the pub
lic for getting the word out about the defendant being sought on murder charges in this shooting and murder at Our Town Alley bowling lanes. It helped in getting him in custody.”
An arrest warrant had been issued for Barnwell on Sunday and authorities, who described Barnwell as “armed and dangerous,” sought the public’s help in locating him. Barnwell reportedly surrendered to authorities after 11 p.m. Sunday.
Barnwell is charged as an adult in connection with the alleged fatal shooting.
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. They are: Shamir Jones, 31, suffered a gunshot wound to the leg and was transported to Paoli Hospital where he underwent surgery; Yahnirr Brooks, 21, was transported to Paoli Hospital where he was treated for a gunshot wound to the leg; Ahmir Simmons, 19, suffered a gunshot wound to the abdomen and was transported to Penn Presbyterian Hospital where he underwent surgery; and Robert Oliver, 26, suffered a gunshot wound to the back and was transported to Einstein Hospital in Philadelphia for treatment, according to court documents.
The conditions of the other four men were unavailable on Monday.
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.
The identities of the two men who allegedly accompanied Barnwell to the bowling alley were not released.
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.