A former Philadelphia high school basketball star is accused of shooting a man during an attempted robbery.
Police say Rysheed Jordan, 21, and two other suspects arranged a meeting on Facebook to sell a cell phone to at least two people. When the victims arrived on 26th and Stewart streets around 4:20 p.m. Friday, Jordan and the other suspects tried to rob them at gunpoint, according to investigators. Police say the victims ran off and Jordan allegedly opened fire, shooting one of the victims, a 23-year-old man, in the arm. The victim was taken to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania where he was placed in stable condition.
On Wednesday around 2 a.m., Temple University Police spotted Jordan in a green Jaguar traveling northbound on Broad and Norris streets, according to officials. Investigators say the vehicle went through a red light and they attempted to pull it over. The vehicle accelerated however and then turned left onto Susquehanna Avenue and left again onto 15th Street, officials said.
Jordan then allegedly left the vehicle and fled on foot southbound on 15th Street. Police say they chased after him on foot into an alley next to the 2100 block of N. 15th Street which is a dead end. An officer then observed Jordan removing a gun from his waistband and throwing it over a fence into a yard, according to investigators. Jordan was then taken into custody.
Police say they recovered the weapon which was loaded with five live rounds and had an obliterated serial number. They have not yet found the green Jaguar that Jordan allegedly ran out of however, officials said.
Jordan is charged with violation of the uniform firearms act and other related offenses in connection to Wednesday’s incident. Police say he is expected to face charges of attempted murder, robbery and other related offenses in connection to the May 27 incident.
Jordan was a star basketball player at Robert Vaux High School in North Philadelphia. Nicknamed, “The Prince of North Philly,” he led Vaux to the 2013 Philadelphia Public League Finals and its first PIAA Class A State Championship. During his high school basketball career, he was at one point ranked as the number three best high school point guard in the country and was rated number 17 in ESPN’s top 100 list. He was also the 2012-2013 PIAA Player of the year.
Jordan then played two seasons for St. John’s University before being drafted by the NBA D-League team the Delaware 87ers. He played 11 games with the team before he was released.
Photo Credit: Getty Images
