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Philly Officer Shot With Stolen Gun: Police

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A Philadelphia Police officer is fighting for his life after he was shot during a violent struggle with a man inside a Feltonville mini mart. Philadelphia Police say the gun used to critically wound the officer was stolen.

The officer, identified as 41-year-old Edward Davies from the 25th District, was shot in the abdomen inside the Almonte Mini Mart at 4th and W. Annsbury Streets around 12:10 p.m. Tuesday, police said.

Davies, a married father of four and six-year veteran of the Philadelphia Police force, was rushed to Temple University Hospital where he underwent surgery. He is currently in a medically induced coma, according to police.

During a press conference Tuesday afternoon, Mayor Michael Nutter announced that Davies suffered "life threatening injuries" but that officials were "hopeful" he would survive. Sources close to the investigation say he suffered a punctured kidney, a severed artery and will need additional surgeries. He was moved to the intensive care unit following surgery.

Philadelphia Police Deputy Commissioner Richard Ross said the suspect, identified as 31-year-old Eric Torres, was stopped at 5th and Allegheny Streets before noon after a different officer noticed the car he was driving had a busted taillight.

After giving that officer his identification, Torres allegedly drove off at a high rate of speed and was able to evade that officer.

A short time later, a witness called 911 to say the suspect crashed his car along 2nd Street and could be seen running into the corner store at 4th and W. Annsbury Streets, Deputy Comm. Ross said.

Several police officers, including Davies, entered the store and got into a violent struggle with the suspect.

“The officers that we spoke to said it was a violent struggle that lasted at least a couple of minutes,” Deputy Comm. Ross said.

During that struggle, police say Torres was able to fire his weapon, hitting Davies under his vest.

Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter said the gun used was a stolen .45 caliber glock.

“This was a gun that was reported stolen last year and now ends up in the hands, we don’t know how, of a multiple-convicted person. . . clearly more than likely should never have a weapon and probably did not walk into a licensed store and purchase this weapon," Nutter said.

Sources close to the investigation say Torres stole the weapon from an officer in another township. They did not reveal the name of the township however.

Witnesses tell NBC10 they heard police yell "officer down" and later saw the suspect being pulled out of the corner store.

Reached by phone, an Almonte Mini Mart store employee, who did not want to give his name, said he could not answer any questions about what happened.

Deputy Comm. Ross said Torres is currently in custody and was not shot. His weapon was also recovered. He is charged with attempted murder, assault and other related offenses.

Torres has a long criminal record. He was arrested 12 times prior to Tuesday's incident, including five arrests for assault of police officers, officials said. His last release from prison was on November 28, 2011, according to court records.

Detectives executed a search warrant at Torres' home just a few blocks from the shooting site shortly before 6 p.m. Tuesday. Sources close to the investigation say police recovered a 9mm gun, ammo for the glock used in Tuesday's shooting and nearly $50,000 worth of heroin.

Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey said the department would be doing everything in its power to ensure Torres never hits the streets again.

“He should never see the light of day again, that’s for sure," he said. "And we’ll do everything in our power to see to it that he will never hurt anybody again. Ever. And whatever it takes to do that, we’re gonna do it."

Philadelphia Police Officer Edward Davies (L) was shot in the stomach following a violent struggle with Eric Torres (R) inside a Feltonville corner store Tuesday afternoon, police say. Photo: Philadelphia Police



Photo Credit: Philadelphia Police

Dog Shot as Owner Escapes Home Invasion Without Clothes

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A dog was shot during an overnight home invasion while protecting his owner who escaped from the scene naked.

The man up around 3:30 a.m. when he heard what sounded like someone breaking into his apartment. The man thought he overheard a few people entering the apartment on the 8200 block of Frankford Avenue in Philadelphia’s Holmesburg neighborhood and then he saw at least one masked gunman in a hooded sweatshirt, according to Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small.

The 27-year-old resident, who wasn’t immediately identified, let his Boxer/pit bull mix dog out to confront the burglars as he jumped off his second-floor balcony -- fully naked -- to escape possible attack.

As the naked man ran down the street he heard screaming from the home -- possibly as the dog attacked one of the burglars -- then gunshots, according to investigators. At least three shots were fired from two different weapons.

Police arrived to find the dog shot in the face and the Frankford Terrace apartment ransacked.

"The couches are turned over, tables and chairs were turned over, it seems that every piece of furniture was knocked down," Small said. "There's a lot of blood from the dog who, like I said, was shot two times."

Authorities gave no condition for the dog but cameras captured the leashed pet walking on its own while being taken into an animal control van following the shooting.

The pet's owner suffered minor injuries from his two-story fall.

The burglars got away and the victim gave little description of the doers expect that there was at least one masked gunman in a hoodie accompanied by at least a couple other people, Small said. 

Anyone with information should contact Philadelphia Police.



Photo Credit: NBC10

Fasting for Schools

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Protesters are expected to hold a hunger strike Wednesday over concerns about school safety. NBC10's Katy Zachry reports.

Photo Credit: NBC10 Philadelphia

On the Market: $1.95M Montco Mansion

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In the market for a beautiful mansion in Montgomery County? This Dutch Colonial-style home located on Susquehanna Road in Jenkintown can be yours for 1.95M.

Crews Search Creek for Missing Teen

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Crews continued their search Wednesday morning for a teenage boy who fell into Pennypack Creek.

Officials say the teen, identified as 15-year-old Sebastian Sanon, was with three of his friends near the creek on Frankford Avenue and Ashburner around 4:45 p.m. Sanon and a friend dipped their feet into the water to cool off when Sanon suddenly slipped and was carried away by the swift current.

"He just went to step in a little bit and it took him out," said Sanon's friend Robert Brown. "At first he was trying to swim to the side and I tried to tell him to swim diagonal to fight the current."

The powerful current began to sweep Sanon away as his friends tried desperately to save him. The friends say Sanon grabbed onto a tree as he was being carried away but the tree snapped.

"He was going backward toward the big pillar and hit his head," Brown said. "I didn't see him after that."

Emergency crews, police and the marine unit were all called to the scene. Police also say a 47-year-old woman who claimed to have a loved one in the water jumped into the creek and had to be rescued by the Marine Unit. She did not suffer any serious injuries.

The search for the teen was called off for the night after several hours.

"They did everything they could to search those areas where we thought the young man might be," said Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Joe Sullivan. "But regrettably they were not successful."

The search resumed around 6 a.m. Wednesday as crews searched in the are of State Road and Ashburner Street.

Family, friends and neighbors tried to comfort the teen's family who were told by police it's unlikely he will be found alive.

"We're all shook right now," said Shanta Keyes, the teen's neighbor. "We really hope the family can cope with this. This is really sad."

Earlier today, heavy rains swept through the region, causing flooding and high tides in several areas. According to the USGS, the creek rose from three feet to over nine feet on Tuesday.

This is also the third incident this summer in which a teenager has been swept away in a local creek.

In late July, Dan Tadrzynski and Perry Krewson, both 18, were swimming in the Neshaminy Creek when they were swept away in the fast-moving current. Their bodies were found two days later.

Earlier in July, two brothers jumped into Pennypack Creek and were swept away after a morning of heavy rains. The younger brother, 11, was found clinging to a ledge in the rain-swollen water and rescued. But the older brother, 13-year-old Brandon Boyle, drowned. His body was recovered three weeks later.

Stay with NBC10.com for more details on this developing story.



Photo Credit: NBC10.com

Chemical Fire Forces Evacuations in Montgomery County

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Crews battled a chemical fire in Abington, Montgomery County this afternoon.

The fire was reported shortly before 1:40 p.m. inside a shed at the Standard Press Steel building located at 301 Highland Avenue. The fire was placed under control around 2:30 p.m.

Firefighters evacuated the building. No one was injured in the incident.

This story is developing. Refresh for updates.

 

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Photo Credit: Skyforce10

Alleged Cop Shooter May Be Linked to Homicide: Sources

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The man who allegedly shot a Philadelphia Police Officer during a violent struggle may have been involved in a previous homicide, according to sources close to the investigation who did not want to be identified.

Eric Torres, 31, is currently in police custody after he engaged in a brutal brawl with several officers around noon on Tuesday inside the Almonte Mini Mart at 4th and Annsbury Streets.

Philadelphia Police Officer Edward Davies, 41, of the 25th District, was shot during the struggle. Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey said Davies underwent a second surgery Wednesday at Temple University Hospital as doctors try and repair his damaged kidney.

Torres, an ex-con with a long arrest record, was being chased by police after he fled a traffic stop at 5th and Allegheny Streets over a broken taillight. He was able to evade officers, but was spotted fleeing into the corner store a short time later. That's where Officer Davies and at least two other officers found him and engaged in a struggle for several minutes before Torres allegedly pulled the trigger, hitting Davies in the stomach, below his bulletproof vest, police said.

Officials say the .45-caliber glock Torres used in the shooting was stolen. Sources told NBC10 Tuesday that the gun was linked to a police officer in a township outside of Philadelphia. They did not, however, elaborate as to which township. Sources close to the investigation also told NBC10 that Torres may have been behind a previous homicide in Philadelphia.

Torres has been charged with attempted homicide, aggravated assault and firearms violations, according to police. Sources say detectives also found ammunition for the stolen gun, a 9mm handgun and $50,000 worth of heroin during a search of his Feltonville home Tuesday night.

Torres also had an extensive criminal history prior to his most recent arrest. Dating back to 2004, he was arrested 12 times, including five in which he was charged with assault on police.

In 2005, he pleaded guilty to drug charges and was sentenced to six months in prison. In 2006, he pleaded guilty to simple assault and was sentenced to six to 23 months in prison. In 2007, he pleaded guilty to drug charges and was sentenced to two to four years in prison. Between 2007 and now, he was arrested for other offenses, including aggravated assault, simple assault and resisting arrest. Court records show he was found not guilty of those charges back in November of 2011.

He was hospitalized at Einstein Medical Center for minor injuries sustained during the struggle. He was transferred to police headquarters Wednesday afternoon.

Officer Davies, a six-year veteran of the force, remained in critical condition following the second surgery. Officials say he will most likely have to undergo several additional surgeries.

Philadelphia Police are organizing a blood drive in support of Officer Davies. The blood drive, only for Philadelphia officers, will be held on Thursday from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Temple Administrative Services Building, Training Room 8, at 2450 W. Hunting Park Avenue.

The general public can also donate blood for Officer Davies at the Red Cross Donation Center on 700 Spring Garden Street on Thursday and Friday from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. They can also donate blood at the Red Cross Donation Center on 1401 Rhawn Street Thursday from 12:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and Friday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Philadelphia Police Officer Edward Davies (L) was shot in the stomach following a violent struggle with Eric Torres (R) inside a Feltonville corner store Tuesday afternoon, police say. Photo: Philadelphia Police

NBC10's Lu Ann Cahn contributed to this report


Contact Vince Lattanzio at 610.668.5532, vince.lattanzio@nbcuni.com or follow @VinceLattanzio on Twitter.



Photo Credit: Philadelphia Police

Philly School District Asking to Suspend Teacher Seniority Rule

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With two days until funding judgment day in the School District of Philadelphia, officials are asking a state-controlled board to remove a rule that forces them to rehire staff based on seniority. This request comes as the district awaits $50 million in additional cash to open school on-time.

The School Reform Commission, a state board that controls the Philadelphia school district, is holding a special hearing at 3 p.m. Thursday to consider suspending part of the district code requiring staff let go during a layoff, be rehired based on seniority.

Schools spokesman Fernando Gallard says the district would like to hire back employees based on the skills that they had at a particular school and to ensure that employees are hired back at the facility where they used to work.

The district's petition comes as officials negotiate a new labor contract with its teachers. Philadelphia Federation of Teachers President Jerry Jordan blasted repealing the seniority rule.

"The district is clearly not negotiating in good faith and we will be looking at and exercising all of our legal options," he said.

Jordan added that implementing the change would violate the union's collective bargaining agreement.

2 DAYS LEFT AND STILL NO FUNDING

As the School District of Philadelphia prepares to staff up the organization should emergency money come through, the moves may be in vain.

District Superintendent Dr. William Hite has demanded at least $50 million in additional funding be given to the district by city and state officials by Friday so he can re-hire about 1,000 laid off staff.

If the money doesn't come by the deadline, Dr. Hite said he may not open schools as planned on September 9.

Dr. Hite has said he cannot safely operate the district's 218 schools without restoring some of the nearly 4,000 administrators, teachers and support staff -- like guidance counselors, secretaries and nurses -- let go in June.

Philadelphia City Council has announced a plan to raise the money for the district through the purchase and resale of unused real estate. Officials have promised to provide the district with a guarantee of the cash by Friday, but with two days to go, nothing is set in stone.

State lawmakers have also admonished Governor Tom Corbett for not yet providing $45 million in promised aid to Philadelphia schools.

The Corbett administration has said it will not provide the money without the teacher's union agreeing to more than $130 million in contract concessions. A cutback union officials say they can't make.

PROTESTS CONTINUE

With no official funding deal announced, students, teachers and education activists continued to protest the funding cuts Wednesday.

A group of some 100 people resumed a fast for safe schools on the steps of the district's headquarters along North Broad Street.

"They have to give sooner or later. So we're going to fight until they do. I'm not going to stand here and believe I'm fighting a dead horse," said fasting parent Earlene Bly.

At another protest, organized by the teacher's union, dozens of parents, teachers and students rallied outside Harding Middle School in the Frankford section of Philadelphia.

There, a sign stood highlighting the names of staff let go, as colleagues spoke about the work they had done for the school's students.


Contact Vince Lattanzio at 610.668.5532, vince.lattanzio@nbcuni.com or follow @VinceLattanzio on Twitter.



Photo Credit: NBC10 Philadelphia

7-Foot-Long Boa Constrictor on the Loose

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A boa constrictor named "Snakie" is on the loose in Swarthmore.

But don't worry.

That's 7 slithering feet of friendliness, according to the snake's owner, a local veterinarian.

David Spiegel reported Snakie missing to police on Monday.

"Snakes are amazing escape and amazing hiding animals," said Kevin Murphy, general curator at the Philadelphia Zoo.

Police Chief Brian Craig described this as a fairly unusual call for their department and is urging people to be on alert.

"I think they should be aware it's out there and if they see it to call 911 immediately, and we'll do whatever is necessary," he said.

Spiegel's veterinary practice is located at 400 Yale Avenue in Swarthmore. Chief Craig says Spiegel is posting flyers to alert neighbors about the missing snake.

"A 7-foot boa constrictor could give you a pretty significant bite, but nothing lethal," said Murphy, who says these snakes are not aggressive, but they do have the potential to be defensive.

"If it's hiding in a hole, behind something or underneath something, and someone goes to disturb it or try and grab it, it certainly could bite," said Murphy.

Boa constrictors are carnivores, but they typically go after small prey. In Snakie's case, the boa constrictor is roaming around on a fairly full belly.

"It had last eaten a week and a half ago and usually eats every 3 to 4 weeks," said Chief Craig, based on what Spiegel told officers.

As for where it maybe hiding?

"It will find someplace it feels secure, so usually with structure around it," said Murphy.

 


Contact Lauren DiSanto at 610.668.5705, lauren.disanto@nbcuni.com



Photo Credit: Dr. David Spiegel

Blood Drives Held for Officer Shot During Struggle

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Two blood drives will be held for a Philadelphia Police Officer who was shot while trying to an arrest an armed suspect.

Officer Edward Davies, 41, was shot just after noon Tuesday as he and fellow officers engaged in a brutal brawl with 31-year-old suspect Eric Torres inside the Almonte Mini Mart at 4th and Annsbury Streets, according to investigators.

Davies suffered a punctured kidney and a severed artery, according to NBC10 sources. He underwent two surgeries and remains in critical condition. Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey said Davies may lose a kidney due to his injuries.

Philadelphia Police are organizing a blood drive in support of Officer Davies. The blood drive, only for Philadelphia officers, will be held on Thursday from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Temple Administrative Services Building, Training Room 8, at 2450 W. Hunting Park Avenue.

The general public can also donate blood for Officer Davies at the Red Cross Donation Center on 700 Spring Garden Street on Thursday and Friday from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. They can also donate blood at the Red Cross Donation Center on 1401 Rhawn Street on Thursday from 12:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and Friday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Also on NBC10.com:

Philadelphia Police Officer May Lose Kidney

Kidnap Suspect May Have Buried Missing Baby: Police

7-Foot Long Boa Constrictor On the Loose

 


 



Photo Credit: Philadelphia Police

Teen Arrested, 3,582 Bags of Heroin Seized During Raid

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A teenage boy is in police custody after police say they found over 3,500 bags of heroin inside his home.

The Wilmington Firearm Squad executed a search warrant Tuesday night at a home on Jensen Drive in the Riverside section of Wilmington. When they arrived, detectives say they seized 3,582 bags of heroin, a mask and a pellet gun from the home. Police say the heroin is valued at $35,820.

A 16-year-old boy was arrested during the raid. Delaware Online reports the teen is charged with possession with intent to deliver heroin in Tier 4 quantity.

Also on NBC10.com:

7-Foot-Long Boa Constrictor on the Loose

Philly Newlywed Teachers Killed in Car Crash

Kidnap Suspect May Have Buried Missing Baby: Police

 



Photo Credit: Wilmington Police

2016 Convention in Philly -- Is It Worth It?

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Can Philadelphia land the 2016 Democratic presidential convention?

Maybe. But here's another question: Are we sure we want to?
When the political parties pick your city to host a national convention, they expect you to really host it, to the tune of tens of millions of dollars' worth of services and cash.

This is all laid out in requirements that competing cities get before they ever apply and enforced in contracts once the host is selected.

Take a look at the contract between the Democratic National Committee and Charlotte, N.C., for the 2012 convention.

The city's host committee had to commit to raise $36.6 million in private contributions to fulfill its obligations under the deal, which included providing:

1. Use of the city's arena for a full week at no charge to the DNC.
2. Media workspace adjacent to the arena with 200,000 square feet of rentable space.
3. 50,000 square feet of furnished, class-A office space in downtown Charlotte for the DNC for five months.
4. 250 air-conditioned buses to transport delegates and others.
5. Use of 50 vehicles for a year before the convention and 350 during the convention.
6. 800 laptop computers, 150 black and white laser printers, 100 color printers, 100 network-enabled photocopiers, 700 smartphones, and on and on.

Democratic National Committee representatives wouldn't talk with me about their plans for 2016, but, trust me, this stuff is pretty much the way it goes. We know because we've been there.

When Philly got a big one

I was covering City Hall in the late '90s when the city set a goal of getting one of the major conventions in 2000.

It was an impressive effort, led by energetic and talented people. By 1997, there were more than a dozen committees at work on everything from fundraising to transportation.

They applied to both parties, and when the Republican site selection committee came to town, they were blown away. Philadelphia got its first convention since 1948.

It wasn't cheap or easy. The city put up about $60 million overall, about $39 million from public sources. There were massive demonstrations and plenty of lawsuits that came of the police response. But in the main, it worked.

At the time, it made sense to me for the city to take a shot at this.
Just a few years before, the city had been broke and dispirited, associated in the national media with phrases including "financial basket case." By the late '90s the city had not only restored financial stability, but had experienced a commercial and cultural rebirth, particularly in Center City.

There was a new convention center, hotels and a host of venues on Broad Street to show off. I've always thought Philadelphia was an unknown treasure and found friends from across the country loved the place when they got here and spent some time.

So when all those Republicans and 15,000 media representatives arrived in August, 2000, I was all for it. It was a great confidence-booster for the city to pull it off, and thousands of people from the region volunteered to work for the host committee.

I don't know how much the city looking pretty on TV matters really. I do think that thousands of well-heeled and connected people coming and having a great experience here can benefit the city in a hundred ways that are hard to measure. It can get people to come and visit again, or tell their friends and relatives about the city, or make it more likely they'd send a kid to college here, or consider it as a place to do business.

But Philadelphia in 2013 isn't the same place as Philadelphia in 1997. We aren't coming out of a brush with fiscal death and are more established as a place to visit, at least in my mind. I'm not sure it's worth the effort and expense it would take to attract a political convention.

And I know they aren't the same thing, but imagine us struggling to find tens of millions for a big political party when our schools are on the edge of collapse.

Sure the hotels would love the business. But, gosh, haven't we subsidized them enough with the convention center, the direct assistance some of them got to open and the ongoing promotion funded by the room tax?

Maybe I'm wrong

Talk to folks in the tourism and hospitality world, and they'll tell you that if you want to keep your share of the market, you have to keep working at it.

Meryl Levitz, CEO of the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation, told me that, yes, Philadelphia isn't what it was in 1997. It's better, and that's a reason to let people know.

Levitz was one of those assembled by U.S. Rep. Bob Brady last week to talk about putting together a bid for the 2016 Democratic National Convention. She said whether the city mounts a serious bid for the convention or not, there's value in the conversation.

"It forces people to come together in the same room, look at their city—out of the space of the grueling day-to-day, how are we going to handle this, how are we going to handle that—and look at bigger issues," Levitz said. "Issues of access and transportation, and technology and visitor friendliness, and the future of the city, whether we get the event or not."

Mayor Michael Nutter said he's very interested in the idea of competing for the convention but that cost is a serious issue.

Indeed. When the 2012 convention was over, the Charlotte host committee was $10 million in debt.


This story was reported through a news coverage partnership between NBC10.com and NewsWorks.org



Photo Credit: AP

Newlyweds Killed in Crash Were Expecting First Child

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The family of newlyweds Will and Jamie Reid just celebrated the couple's wedding three months ago. Now they will gather again this weekend to mourn the loss of the couple, killed in a weekend car crash in Asheville, N.C.

"The whole life history of your child runs past you in a very brief period of time.  It's a terrible thing," said Anne Reid, Will's mother.

Will and Jamie Reid were visiting Asheville to celebrate a friend's wedding. The couple was riding in the back of a Lincoln Town Car, on the way to the Asheville Regional Airport early Sunday afternoon, when the limousine driver went down an embankment and hit a large tree.

Will's family describes the moment they were told about the crash. "We were all in the same room at the same time. Thank God we had each other. That's what you do. You fall together and we stayed physically attached to each other for the rest of the night," said Reid.

PHOTO COURTESY: Asheville Citizen-Times/CITIZEN-TIMES.COM

Besides losing the couple, the Reid family says they also lost a grandchild. Jamie was pregnant when she was killed on impact. Will died a short time later at Mission Hospital.

Both Will, 26, and Jamie, 25, were teachers in Philadelphia. Jamie worked at Harrity Elementary, a Mastery Charter School. Some of her former students have been writing to NBC10, describing her as "one of the best teachers they ever had," who was always there to give advice or help with anything they needed.

Will taught math at People for People Charter School. "They were really just perfect for each other.  They really were at the top of their game.  They were cut short in their efforts but they really were in a great place," said James Reid, Will's father.

Rodney Koon, the limousine driver who was driving the couple to the airport, survived the crash. He's being treated at Mission Hospital for his injuries.

Asheville Police issued warrants to search the Lincoln Town Car and according to Asheville's Citizen Times, a digital recording device from the car was seized that could shed more light on what caused the crash and if Koon will be charged.

A memorial service for the couple will be held on August 17 at the Doyle-Devlin Funeral Home in Phillipsburg, N.J.

"He would so disappointed if I stopped my life because of something like this. As would Jamie. He'd probably beat me up for crying too much. I just have to keep thinking about the Will that I knew," said Leslie Reid, Will's younger sister.


Contact Lauren DiSanto at 610.668.5705, lauren.disanto@nbcuni.com



Photo Credit: Facebook Photo

Father Hanged Himself After Killing Son, Wife: ME

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A Gloucester County father strangled his son, killed his wife and then hanged himself, according to the Medical Examiner.

An autopsy report was released on Wednesday for a father found dead along with his wife and 6-year-old son.

Police officers found Francis Adolf, 49, along with his wife, Bonnie Lynn Adolf, 44 and their son, Frank Adolf, Jr., dead inside the family's Kenton Avenue home in Pitman, N.J. yesterday morning. According to the autopsy report, Adolf Jr. died from strangulation and blunt force injury to the head. His death was ruled a homicide. Bonnie Adolf died from blunt force injury to the head. Her death was also ruled a homicide. Adolf Sr. died from hanging. His death was ruled a suicide.

Gloucester County Prosecutor Sean Dalton said that investigators found writings inside the home that indicated that Adolf wanted to hurt his family but the prosecutor didn't elaborate on the nature of those writings. 

Officials got a phone call and came to the home Tuesday morning to check on the well-being of the Adolfs. When they arrived, they found the bodies. Handwritten notes and emails describing Adolf's intentions led investigators to consider the incident a murder-suicide.

Pitman Mayor, Russ Johnson III lives in the neighborhood and said people are surprised and upset.

"Shocked. Sad. This is my neighborhood. This is my town," said Johnson. "Just very sad for the family."

Frank Jr. was just shy of his 7th birthday.

Neighbors told NBC 10 Philadelphia's Doug Shimell that the son was about to enter the second grade at Memorial Elementary School in Pitman.

Mayor Johnson said his son and Frank Jr. were classmates.

"I don't know how you explain to a 7-year-old what could possibly happen," Johnson said. "You've got to do your best as parents but I don't know how I can possibly explain it to my kid -- to any of those kids in that school."

The school sent a statement out to parents, saying that "Frankie" Jr. died in a tragic incident.

"Everyone here in the district -- especially those within the Memorial School community -- is heartbroken about the loss of Frankie. We extend our sympathy to all of Frankie's family and friends, and to the wider community of Pitman, on this very sad day."

Dalton said there was no reported domestic violence history involving the Adolfs. More should be known about the deaths when the medical examiner completes the autopsies.

Meanwhile, neighbors are wondering if there were warning signs that they missed.

"It's such a shame that something wasn't seen or detected before it got to this," said Jeanne Ewe.

Pitman is a town of about 9,000 residents located in Gloucester County, about 15 miles south of Center City Philadelphia.



Photo Credit: Facebook.com

Tractor Trailer Overturns on Rt. 202

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A driver is in the hospital after an accident on Route 202 in King of Prussia.

Officials say a tractor trailer overturned in the northbound lanes between Gulph Road and the ramp for I-76.

The tractor trailer driver was taken to Paoli Hospital and treated for non-life-threatening injuries. No one else was hurt in the crash.

Northbound lanes were closed between Gulph Road and the ramp for I-76. Those lanes have since reopened.

A portion of Route 1 in Middletown Township, Bucks County was also shut down due to an accident. A crash between two cars caused one of the vehicles to overturn.

Police say one person suffered a minor injury.

Northbound lanes were shut down at the intersection of Route 1 and Route 413 in Middletown Township. Those lanes have since reopened.

Stay with NBC10.com for more details on these developing stories.
 


Police ID Body Found in Bay

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Police have identified the body of a man pulled from the Sea Isle City back bay lagoon. 

Vacationers discovered the body floating face down between two docked boats near 323 E. 43rd Street around noon Thursday. Police identified the body as 61-year-old Norman Remsen of Marmora, NJ.

Investigators believe he'd been in the water for no more than 48 hours.

Joe Wilson came to Sea Isle City for the day from Deptford to visit friends and made the grisly discovery.

“Looked over the edge and I said, that looks like a body. And they said we saw that earlier and we thought it was a trash bag. I said, ‘Well it can’t be a trash bag with a head', “said Wilson.

Charles Copeland, a retired Mantua Township Police officer, also made the discovery.

“Seen many...definitely…just hope it has closure for somebody who might be missing,” said Copeland.

There were no signs of trauma, according to police.

So far there is no word on what happened to Remsen or how he ended up in the water. Investigators say no one has been reported missing recently in Cape May County. Police say the cause of death is still under investigation.

Anyone with information is asked to call New Jersey State Police at 609-561-1800 ext. 3355.



Photo Credit: Ted Greenberg

2 Men Struck in North Philly Double Shooting

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Two men are in the hospital after a double shooting in North Philadelphia.

Police say a 25-year-old man and a 30-year-old man were walking on the 400 block of West Indiana Avenue shortly after 1 p.m. when an unknown gunman opened fire.

The 25-year-old man was shot once in the calf. He was taken to Temple University Hospital where he is currently in stable condition.

The 30-year-old man was struck three times in the upper thigh and once in the buttocks. He was also taken to Temple where he is currently in critical condition.

No arrests have been made. If you have any information on the shooting, please call Philadelphia Police. 

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Photo Credit: Getty Images

Charlie's Departure

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On Friday afternoon, the Charlie Manuel era in Philadelphia ended. It was at a press conference in Citizens Bank Park where Ruben Amaro tearfully announced that Manuel would no longer be managing the Philadelphia Phillies, thanks in part to a lot of things, not the least of which was a disappointing season that sees the Phillies closer to last place in the division than first place. After a time, Amaro turned it over to Manuel, who spoke and reflected on his time with the Phillies, saying – among other things - “I never quit nothing and I did not resign.”

Whether or not Charlie was fired, or relieved, or dismissed, one thing remains clear: Friday was a pretty lousy day for Phillies fans, whose feelings on the firing ranged from sad to angry to indifferent.

For a lot of fans, Charlie Manuel is the only manager that many of them have ever known. I don't mean that in the sense that many only started following the Phillies during his tenure, but in the sense that the advent of social media and the 24-hour news cycle and cable channels dedicated to nothing but the Phillies have allowed a level of access not seen in the days of Larry Bowa or Terry Francona. Sure, Jim Fregosi led the 1993 team to the World Series, but his presence was not felt nearly as much as Charlie's.

The fact that the Phillies won a World Series under Manuel's tenure certainly helped endear him to many of the fans that wanted him gone less than two years into what would become a nine-year run of managing many of the best teams in franchise history. His “aw shucks” demeanor and slow drawl didn't do much to change the impression (in large part thanks to the media) that he wasn't a smart guy, nor a good manager. But like anything else, preconceived notions go out the window once you start to perform, and once the Phillies won division title after division title, people started to care less and less about Manuel's ability as a manager, no matter how inaccurate those notions were to start.

But no matter what you think about Charlie as a manager, a clubhouse presence, or a person, his severance from the organization on Friday was not only not a surprise, but almost an expected next move in a series of moves that has led the team to where they currently are: near the bottom of the division and near the bottom of the league, in a sort of free fall that has more to do with the failings of Ruben Amaro as a General Manager than Charlie, who was nothing more than a victim of circumstances that were totally beyond his control.

His dismissal, or his firing, or the parting of ways between himself and the organization was inevitable. When the Phillies hired Ryne Sandberg to man the helm of the Lehigh Valley IronPigs prior to the 2011 season, it was only a matter of time before he would replace Manuel. After all, you don't pry someone like Sandberg away from the Chicago Cubs organization (where he was passed over for the big league job) unless there are certain expectations about when he might get to manage at the Major League level. And with Charlie Manuel just shy of 70 years of age, and with his contract set to expire at the end of this season, it seemed like Sandberg was going to take over at the start of the 2014 season, anyway.

The question is, then, if Charlie deserved a better ending to what has been a great career as the skipper of the Phillies. He oversaw the team during it's greatest era of success, which included two National League pennants, and only the second World Series title in the organization's history. He played a vital role in the development and subsequent success of some of the greatest Phillies of all time, including Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, and Cole Hamels. And despite the failures of the 2012 and 2013 seasons, that should in no way lessen the impact that Charlie Manuel has had on the organization, the team, the players, and the city. So, then, why was he unceremoniously showed the door on a Friday afternoon, only a few hours before the first pitch of that night's game?

To that, there is no easy answer. Charlie knew full well that Wednesday's loss against the Atlanta Braves was the last game he would manage in a Phillies uniform, just two days after he won the 1,000th game of his career. That, surely, is no coincidence. I've made no secret about my feelings regarding Ruben Amaro's ability as a General Manager, but he was faced with an impossible situation regarding cutting ties with Manuel. If he lets him finish out a lost season, then Charlie is a lame duck manager who is merely going through the motions knowing that it literally doesn't matter what the team does over the final month plus of the season, while his replacement stands along the third base line collecting dust.

In my opinion, Amaro did what he thought was the best for Charlie, the best for Sandberg, and the best for the team. And I don't think that's a bad thing, at all. At the very least, this lets Sandberg get his feet wet as a manager, while allowing the players to adjust to what is sure to be a new style. It's the start of a new era for the Phillies, one that will be ushered in by the likes of young players like Domonic Brown and Cody Asche, along with veterans like Chase Utley and Cole Hamels. Making a change in the manager's seat makes sense.

Now, the downside to this is that Sandberg is being handed a team that isn't particularly good. There are some bright spots, and a good off-season and a little bit of luck can turn the Phillies into a competitor as early as 2014, but it's important to realize that a new manager isn't a cure-all. That burden is on the upper management, and it requires Ruben Amaro and company to take a  long look in the mirror and realize that they need a much greater change than just the guy filling out the lineup card every night. But that is another post for another day.

I enjoyed Charlie Manuel a great deal, even while I never thought he was a great in-game tactician. And in my opinion, managers have a largely insignificant role on the overall success of a team, as they are not responsible for any of the on-the-field action, provided that they are putting out the best possible lineup on a daily basis. Whatever your thoughts are on Manuel, you can't take away from his accomplishments in Philadelphia, the greatest of which came on a blustery Wednesday night in October of 2008, when he stood triumphantly in Citizens Bank Park, and proudly shouted to the fans “This is for Philadelphia!”



Photo Credit: MLB Photos via Getty Images

10 Questions: Helen Gym, Advocate for Public Education

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Editor's Note: 10 Questions is a new weekly feature on NBC10.com. If you know someone who we should profile, please email us.


Helen Gym is the founder of Parents United for Public Education, an organization advocating for a strong Philadelphia public school system.

What is Parents United?
Parents United for Public Education came about to engage public school parents and charter parents all across the city to stand up around a strong public school system. With all the events that have transpired in the last year or so there’s nothing more important than the quality of our schools. It’s tied to our population, our future and tied to children —getting people engaged and active and passionate about our public schools.

Tell us a little more about yourself.
I’m a transplant from the Midwest, came here from college. Stayed here more permanently since the 90s. I’m a former public school teacher in the district. I was the first editor of the Philadelphia Public School Notebook. I’m a parent of three children. I helped found a charter school in Chinatown. I’m a daughter of immigrants.

What was life growing up in the Midwest?
My parents did not have that much. Everything I ever got in my life, including sports, art activities and community functions, learning to ride my bike at the park, swimming in public swimming pool came from public spaces. They have had an impact. That belief I carry with me. No matter what background you come from these public goods help all to give each other the quality and access to opportunity that many people would not have otherwise. I appreciate the fact that there was an amazing recreational center where I grew up (in Columbus, Ohio) that was public and free.

How do you summarize the current situation with the Philadelphia public schools?
We’ve been at this for a very long time. I was a teacher in the 90s, present for the state takeover in 2001. What makes this crisis very different is it’s created a perfect storm for public schools. The governor has been made it his mission to underfund public schools all over the commonwealth. He’s underfunded public education. Philadelphia public schools include public schools and charter schools. A massive and rapid expansion of this school system is needed. The biggest danger for the Philadelphia public schools at this time is beyond funding and politics. It’s not Republicans and Democrats. it’s really about people who believe in public goods and public spaces for all. A lot of people have said let education like the housing market. We are moving very rapidly away from the notion. People think that everything is for sale – that children are customers, clients and commodities to be bought and sold.

How can the issues facing the school district be fixed?
The governor took out almost a billion dollars in public education. Almost all came directly from schools itself. All the school aides were stripped out… it’s a shell essentially. How much longer can we live with this? They are still fighting for pennies under the couch. They are starving us to the point of dysfunction. It’s purposeful and deliberate. There’s a whole community of people who are saying this. The political thing I see as political gamemanship has no relevance of what we are talking about. We need to come up with the amount of money it takes to fund the schools. We are not even close.

What can students do to have an impact on the school district?
It’s been an incredible year to see thousands of students pour out onto the streets to testify about what’s happening in the city. We saw thousands come out around school budget crisis. I feel like students being conscious that their education is tied to this larger question about the moral center and future of Philadelphia is something that is both necessary and powerful. I think many have done it and many more can make that connection.

Can adequate school funding be achieved?
I have no doubt that the city and state will strike a deal regarding Philadelphia public schools. But, will that deal lower the bar? We haven’t had a conversation about the quality of education. I have no doubt that people are going to bicker about things that have nothing to do with what the core issues are in the schools.. The political leadership with both the city and state have lost their moral center and they don’t understand what the issue is. They are bickering over numbers that irrelevant and they don’t know what we need. It’s us who needs who define the numbers. We put out the number, the minimum amount is $180 million. Until we have the conversation about the $180 million… we want a guidance counselor in every school. We want to distribute secretaries. We want our school aides back. We lost 1,2000 of them. You can’t run a lunch room with one person running a lunch room. These are the things in which we are going to redefine. We are going to demand that schools are adequately staffed and funded by Sept. 9, with a fair funding formula. We are drawing a line. The $180 million is only acceptable when it goes back and restores… and we feel that the schools are safe for our children. We define safety with the number of adults in a building not a security camera.

Do you support a boycott of Philadelphia schools?
If they give us $50 million by spring we will run out. We are calling upon the district to not open schools until they are fully staffed and funded. Boycott may not be the right word. Until we are in some level of the ballpark and then we start to discuss what it takes to keep schools open and staff them. I think what we are calling upon is for the district to be responsible to not only the children but also the staff. This is their responsibility to do. And we won’t support it otherwise. We think schools should stay closed and not open until.

What other school issues are there out there?
I think there are a lot of things happening with the school district right now. Who runs the school district? Why are we in Philadelphia, one of the few places in the country where we can’t elect our own school board? We are under a state run school board for 13 years and mayor-appointed before that. The question about responsible and responsive leadership at our school district level is a very important conversation to be had. The changing notion of public – we are eroding that very quickly, expanding the idea of privatization is opening the door to other problematic areas. There are issues such as high stakes testing. Grading schools. We strip more and more resources. We demand students are college and career ready. Dichotomy of standards that have no money and resources attached to them…. Setting people up to fail.

Last thoughts…
We have a governor who ran against public schools and children. That’s how I feel. The next governor’s race we are going to have to decide how much education will become an issue. We need to ask the question whether we are going to allow the next governor to get away from that. The mayor’s race is right after that. Will we allow people into office who don’t think about, don’t care and aren’t committed to public education in Philadelphia? It is possible that if you demand unlimited school choice you will run out of money to do public education? There are limits to things. For most people there is a big different between public and private. The fight is going to continue.


Contact Sarah Glover at 610-668-5580, sarah.glover@nbcuni.com or follow @skyphoto on Twitter.



Photo Credit: NBC10.com

Body Pulled From Del. River Near Yacht Club

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Investigators are trying to identify a body that was pulled from the Delaware River Saturday morning. The body of a 200 pound black male was found in the river near the Quaker City Yacht Club on Princeton Avenue around 8 a.m. The body was taken to the Medical Examiner's Office where an identification will be made.

Police have not yet confirmed whether the body is that of a teenage boy who fell into Pennypack Creek on Tuesday.

Officials say the teen, identified as 15-year-old Sebastian Sanon, was with three of his friends near the creek on Frankford Avenue and Ashburner around 4:45 p.m. Sanon and a friend dipped their feet into the water to cool off when Sanon suddenly slipped and was carried away by the swift current.

"He just went to step in a little bit and it took him out," said Sanon's friend Robert Brown. "At first he was trying to swim to the side and I tried to tell him to swim diagonal to fight the current."

The powerful current began to sweep Sanon away as his friends tried desperately to save him. The friends say Sanon grabbed onto a tree as he was being carried away but the tree snapped.

"He was going backward toward the big pillar and hit his head," Brown said. "I didn't see him after that."

Emergency crews, police and the marine unit were all called to the scene. Police also say a 47-year-old woman who claimed to have a loved one in the water jumped into the creek and had to be rescued by the Marine Unit. She did not suffer any serious injuries.

The search for the teen was called off for the night after several hours.

"They did everything they could to search those areas where we thought the young man might be," said Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Joe Sullivan. "But regrettably they were not successful."

The search resumed around 6 a.m. Wednesday as crews searched in the are of State Road and Ashburner Street.

Family, friends and neighbors tried to comfort the teen's family who were told by police it's unlikely he will be found alive.

"We're all shook right now," said Shanta Keyes, the teen's neighbor. "We really hope the family can cope with this. This is really sad."

Earlier today, heavy rains swept through the region, causing flooding and high tides in several areas. According to the USGS, the creek rose from three feet to over nine feet on Tuesday.

It was also the third incident this summer in which a teenager has been swept away in a local creek.

In late July, Dan Tadrzynski and Perry Krewson, both 18, were swimming in the Neshaminy Creek when they were swept away in the fast-moving current. Their bodies were found two days later.

Earlier in July, two brothers jumped into Pennypack Creek and were swept away after a morning of heavy rains. The younger brother, 11, was found clinging to a ledge in the rain-swollen water and rescued. But the older brother, 13-year-old Brandon Boyle, drowned. His body was recovered three weeks later.

Stay with NBC10.com for more details on this developing story.



Photo Credit: Shutterstock
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